03-16-15 Spring Peepers, Wood Frogs and a Couple of Loud W. Chorus Frogs
I got out tonight to check out some vernal pools in Vermilion County. There were three in close proximity. The largest was 2/3 still covered in ice, yet I found all three frog species in it (a W.Chorus frog just under the edge of the ice in fact), as well as a smallmouth salamander gliding silently and deftly through the water. The frogs were not calling in this pool though, at least not while I was there. The smallest pool had spring peepers calling and some wood frogs present, but not calling that I could see or hear. The medium pool was a hotbed of activity and both recordings are from there. The first is of a W.Chorus frog holding its own against a very strong chorus of spring peepers and wood frogs. He was positioned against a leaf sticking up out of the water, and I think it helped direct his sound toward me.
The second recording, in contrast to the huge noise of the first, is a later restart after the whole chorus fell silent. It seems the spring peepers always lead first. A couple start calling tentatively and then eventually a whole chorus builds and the woodfrogs join in. Here though is a false start.
