When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Big Pizza Pie, That’s Amore…

I found this little fellow one night at the edge of a vernal pool in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. This Spring Peeper was singing his heart out to his yet-to-be sweetheart. He was so cute puffing out his throat into a big bubble to get the most volume out of his mating call. So I lay down in the oak leaf and muck mixture at the edge of the pool to photograph him. Apparently with me nearby his comfort level was not conducive to love. He played the silence card on me and deflated his throat. Then I played the patience card on him. And another patience card. And then another patience card. My deck was getting low. About this time, I was starting to think more about the ticks crawling up onto me than this love-lonely tree frog.

After a long wait he finally puffed up his throat and continued his amorous refrain. When I turned on my flashlight to focus the camera, he clamed-up again. I turned off my flashlight and he started to sing. Flashlight on, singing off. Flashlight off, singing on. We played this game for a while before I admitted defeat. Frog love is a tricky thing to capture on film, so I took his portrait instead and headed home – wet, cold, and thankfully, with no ticks (that time anyway!).

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Spring Peepers are a type of tiny tree frog (see the mosquito at the lower right corner of the photograph for a size comparison). Rather than webbed feet like on most frogs, Peepers have pads at the ends of their toes which helps them climb woodland vegetation.

Throughout most of the year Peepers live silently in the woods; but in early spring they migrate en masse to water bodies – puddles, roadside ditches, lakes, and ponds – to breed. Their familiar “peep, peep, peep” breeding call can be heard a mile away if the evening air has the right conditions. During winter they hibernate under tree bark and woodland debris.

Note: Back in 2006 I was certifying some vernal pools for the State. While Spring Peepers are not an indicator of vernal pools, they do use them. I came, I saw, I photographed the Peepers as well as the indicators that do define these pools.