amphibians of the week

meet Jackson (above)and Evan, named by little Julia (Maya and Chris's 2 2/3 yr old) for her friend at preschool and her cousin. Maya and Julia came out to feed the fish and meet the frogs. the frogs were so friendly that they stole the show.

here's evan. he was calling "glunk-glunk" in hopes of attracting a mate.



they are both green of course, and in the species Green Frog (Rana clamitans), so named for the clamorous noise the males make calling for females at night. the raucous ancestors of these guys inspired my father to describe our place as "just an ole frog bog."

the reptiles and amphibians field guide notes that green frogs are "not as wary as other species of frogs." this was certainly true of Jackson and Evan, who let us get very close to them. we know they are boys, because males have yellow chests and the more demure females have white chests.

a very charming little Common Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) is up under the eaves of our house, too high to photograph.

we didn't name this place frog bog for nothing.