Nature Net News
May 2009
Frogs, Frogs, Frogs!
"I'd kiss a frog even if there
was no promise of a Prince Charming popping out of it. I love frogs."
Cameron Diaz
Dear Reader, They're green, grey, brown and the star of many a folk tale. We're talking about frogs! There's a reason why this wetland friend has long been the center of human interest. From its amazing metamorphosis--from egg, to tadpole, to frog--to its resonant chorus that can be heard for miles--though small, they capture the imagination. So hop to it! Take a hike and go frog watching. Opportunities abound--check out this issue of Nature Net News for ideas and information, and visit the Cherokee Marsh or any of the many Nature Net sites in the area. Enjoy! Kathe & Sarah |
Frog eggs are laid in a jelly-like substance. A frog can lay hundreds of eggs at a time! Frog and toad eggs are hard to distinguish from another, however, frog eggs are in large masses, while toad eggs are usually in a line.
What to Do This Month:
Visit a pond and try to find frogs and tadpoles in different stages of metamorphosis.
Take a spring hike at your favorite Nature Net site.
On May 7th, take the Cherokee Marsh Family Tour and look for frogs!
Become an official "FrogWatch USA" volunteer and join other citizen scientists in monitoring frog species in our area.
Tricks of the Trail for Parents:
Watch out while frog watching!
When your family goes frog watching, beware! Little ones often mistake the floating duckweed for solid ground, so make sure your toddlers remain on terra firma.
FrogWatch USA advises that you arrive at your wetland around sundown, when frog calls are most active. Remember to keep a distance between you and your site to ensure that the breeding area is left undisturbed.
Stay quiet for a couple of minutes before starting to listen for frogs and toads. When you are ready, cup your hands around your ears and listen to the frog chorus. Remain as quiet as possible during this time so you don't disturb the frogs and toads--they may stop singing if you make too much noise.
Curious about what you've heard? Check out Wisconsin frog calls on the DNR's Know Your Frogs EEK website
Instant Outdoor Expert:
The Frog Cycle
Frogs start off as eggs, then graduate to tadpoles and finally frogs. This cycle is called metamorphosis. Tadpoles, also called polliwogs, start out as a body and a tail. As they grow older, first they sprout hind legs, then front legs. The tail is the last to go--if you're lucky you can find a frog hopping around with their tail still on. For more information and fun games, visit the Kiddy House Frog Page and FROGLAND.
Featured Nature Net Site
Nature Craft
Cherokee Marsh
Cherokee Marsh, with 4,000 total acres, is by far the largest wetland in Dane County. An enormously diverse nature study area, Cherokee Marsh consists of a mosaic of wetlands, southern Wisconsin woodlots, old fields, restored prairie and oak savannah, two glacial drumlins and a section of the Yahara River. Managed by the Madison Park System, it is located only seven miles from the Capitol at the northern end of Sherman Avenue.
Walk in the midst of a cattail marsh - one which is part of a wetland created by former glacial Lake Mendota. Or, follow the Yahara River boardwalk as it meanders through a sedge meadow, over peat deposits and past a fen - a distinctly different wetland from the cattail marsh. The park contains two observation platforms for wildlife viewing and several belly boards to encourage exploration of pond ecosystems. Other trails lead through prairie restorations, old field habitat, edge habitat, oak savannah, typical southern Wisconsin woods, over a glacial drumlin and to a glacial kettle pond.
Let your froggy friend hold stuff for you!
What you will need: Two paper plates of the same
size, green paint, green and red construction paper, white and black
construction paper or googly eyes and optional yarn.
1. Paint the backs of your paper plates green and let them dry.
2. Cut out 4 frog legs (2 long and 2 short) and two medium circles out of green construction paper. These circles will be your frog's eyes. Also cut a long strip of red construction paper for your frog's tongue. You can also use a ribbon.
3. When plates are dry, cut one in half and glue two of the frog legs and the tongue to the UNPAINTED side and fold over so that they hang over the green side.
4. Staple the half plate to the whole plate to form a pouch or hole punch both plates and have child lace them together with yarn.
5. Cut circles from the black and white paper to make eyes or use googly eyes and paste to the green circles cut in Step 2.
5. Glue eyes to head.
6. Take your finished frog and feed him with stuff
that needs to be held!
)
Suggested Reading:
"The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fischer" by Beatrix Potter
(all ages)
"A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog" by Mercer Meyer
(infant-preschool)
"Tuesday" by David Wiesner (infant-8)
"Do Princesses Really Kiss Frogs?" by Carmela LaVigna Coyle and Mike Gordon
(infant-8)
"All About Frogs" by Jim Arnosky (4-8)
"A Frog Prince" by Alix Berenzy (4-8)
"It's a Frog's Life!" by Steve Parker (4-8)
"Hopping Mad" by Michael Catchpool and David Roberts (4-8)
"Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Jumping Frogs" by
Donald J. Sobol (9-12)
"The Adventures of Grandfather Frog" by Thornton W.
Burgess
(9-12)
