On March 20 2012 when this was first published –and now in April 2024– exactly on the spring equinox (or nearly so) the amphibian universe activates in Maine. The biological chorus switches on.

The air is wet and cool, sweet with spring and as our car travels through the tunnel of light down Sligo Road. Cued by rising temperatures and enough hours of light the earths’ quickening comes as frog harmony

The Spring Peepers aka “pinkletinks” or tinkletoes sing a hue and cry, Hallelujah! the love songs of frogs and toads. It is sweet enough to break your heart and very loud, pulsing.

Here in Maine they hibernate until spring and when they emerge the nights are capricious but the frogs can freeze and recover. It is magic and even if it is not, it is magical.

When the conditions are right they move to the edges of lakes and wetlands. Males call to the females who listen very carefully to their songs and then decide which to join.

In the audio files in this link below you can hear the song for each type of frog and toad. What a frog says and how it says it depends on what it is trying to communicate! Imagine what we are missing because we do not speak any frog!

http://allaboutfrogs.org/weird/general/songs.htmlhttp://allaboutfrogs.org/weird/general/songs.html

If you click on the “Play Button” you can hear the songs of the army or the knot (the official name of a group of frogs!)

To see more images of frogs, one of my favorite animals, here is a link to a gallery. Gay had a terrarium and a lake for frog observation. https://gbi.photoshelter.com/gallery/Frogs-Toads/G0000LgG0C2NMmLg/C0000yrpt5Yfg8mI