TREE FROGS

When I woke up this morning and started thinking about what in the world I was going to write about today, I had no idea. Then, our tree frog showed up! He seems to visit the porch just about every day!

It didn’t take me long to notice him…I’m always on the look out for him. It seems like he enjoys our company, seeming to say “Good Morning!”

I know it’s part of their feature, but he always seems so happy. I’m not sure whether this frog is female or male, but I’m calling it him.

Some facts on tree frogs:

• Grey Tree Frog, aka Northern Tree Frog
• closely related to Cope’s grey tree frog
• distinguishable based on variation of calls
• common to northeast (USA), but has a distribution range from Texas across from northern Florida up to Maine and New Brunswick
• prefer wooded habitats with trees and shrubs near water sources
• varies in color from greenish-gray to gray-black depending on background environment (I’ve seen pure black ones here – at least they seemed pure black)
• have a light colored spot under eyes and skin may have bumpy texture
• have yellowish patch on ventral side of back legs (inside), might only see it when jumping or moving
• expert at camo
• relatively small – ranging from 1.5 to 2 inches in length
• insectivores
• adults are also opportunistic cannibals, eating smaller frogs
• larvae graze on algae/other plant matter
• emerge from water burrows in April, breed in May

We first noticed the frogs a few years ago. I think the pool drew them up to the house (there is a drainage pond below our house that has water in it most of the time now).

We had fun with the frog on this night. Luckily, I grabbed the camera when we went out to explore.

This picture was taken before he jumped on my sons face. He looks very intrigued by my son, who is sheltering him with his hand.

He loves the pool…but since we cut the branch down that over hung the pool I haven’t noticed him in the pool as much.

“There are some things one can only achieve by a deliberate leap in the opposite direction.” Franz Kafka

“The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives” – Indian proverb

We also have a toad that comes and visits, but that’s another story!

“A frog decided to reach the top of the tree

All frogs shouted,

“It’s impossible. It’s impossible…”

Still the frog reaches the top…

How…?

Because he was deaf…

And he thought everyone was encouraging him to reach the top…”

the moral: ” Be deaf to negative thoughts, if your aim is to reach your goal.”