Pull up a chair for annual spring concert

Some are as small as the joint of a finger, while others as large as dinner plates. They come in stripes, spots, and even robber's masks. They can be glistening smooth or covered with "warts."

They are the princes you kiss, or slimy swamp creatures you despise, depending on what movies you watch. When they crank up their music, it's better than a rock concert.

Of course, they are frogs and toads, heralds of spring.

Wait a minute, aren't frogs and toads the same thing? They're all amphibians, but toads have bumpy "warts" and short "hopping" legs while frogs have smooth skin and long "leaping" legs. Typically frogs and toads like the night life, so grab a flashlight if you want to see them in action. Better yet, just listen. A riot of sound awaits you.

I have a premier seat for the annual spring time amphibian concert. Our front porch faces acres of wetlands and a stream. Winter is banished when I start to hear the tiny spring peepers with their wonderful soprano voices. In fact, this year was the earliest I ever heard them, with the first tentative calls on Feb. 28. For weeks now, the males have been singing their hearts out to attract mates. There's no time to waste because they only have about four months to breed from March to June.

Think a chorus line, and these little guys take the top prize. Their diminutive stature (they weigh less than one tenth of an ounce and are usually less than an inch long) is in direct contrast to their loud, high-pitched calls. How can such little things make so much noise?

Though I've never taken a flashlight to wetlands to spot them, I have been lucky enough to occasionally find them on the patio furniture or stuck to the storm door after a rain. Their golden-ringed eyes, large toe pads and beautiful colors make them one of the best harbingers of spring. When they're gone for the year, it's as if the world has gone silent.

And then there's the "trill" thrill. This distinctive sound belongs to the American toad, an abundant species that frequents many different habitats from wetlands to moisture laden woodpiles. A trill call can last anywhere from 6 to 30 seconds with 30 to 40 trills per second.

This is a versatile amphibian that can change its color depending on its habitat. When it's not trilling, it can eat up to a 1000 insects a night, including pesky mosquitoes. Who needs insect spray when you have frogs and toads on your side!

One word of caution: don't let your dogs eat toads. The American toad has a mild toxin that can be harmful to them. My dogs have had close encounters with them but fortunately lived to wag their tails another day.

Next in the choir is the American bullfrog. If peepers are the sopranos of the amphibian world, then bullfrogs are the bass. Their deep bellows are similar to the sounds of roaring bulls, hence their name. Their call is best described as "jug-o-rumm."

Fully mature bullfrogs can weigh as much as a pound and grow to six inches in length. They are not picky eaters, chowing down on a variety of creatures such as rodents, birds, turtles and snakes along with the usual insects. In some parts of the country, they are most noted for their legs being served on the dinner plate; however check state regulations before throwing them in the pan with a little butter.

There are many other frogs and toads that join the musical as spring progresses. Wood frogs (another personal favorite), gray tree frogs and leopard frogs are a few more of the actors that join the cast for the season. Don't forget to look for frog eggs, too, floating like eyeballs on the water (kids will love to see them).

Hop in the car (pun intended) and look for ponds, streams, and wetlands near you for a wonderful show courtesy of nature at its very best.

sports@carrollcountytimes.com

410-857-7896