The Spring Peepining

The Spring Peepining

By Elyse Dilks

Naturalist -- Warner Parks

Spring Peeper

As spring approaches, there are many signs to let us know that warmer months are about to come. The flowers begin to bloom, insects begin to buzz around, birds that migrated during the winter months start to return home, and all the creatures that hid away in their warm burrows and dens creep out. However, one of my favorite signs of spring is when you start to hear the evening calls of some peculiar creatures that we know dearly as the frogs and toads.

Cope's Gray Treefrog

Tennessee is home to 21 species of frogs and toads, though not all are heard or seen here at Warner Parks. Since January, I have been on edge, waiting and listening for the frogs to begin their wonderous tunes. However, the start of 2024 has already been a strange one when it comes to the weather here in Tennessee. From temperatures ranging as high as the 60s-70s to lows being in the 20s-30s, each week this winter has been different. We were even hit with freezing temperatures that resulted in much of Nashville being shut down due to the ice and snow. With the weather being so irregular, it becomes harder to predict what the wildlife will do. In terms of frogs, some are more resilient than others to the cold, but with such random weather and temperatures, it was a mystery as to when we would hear the early bird, or in this case, the early frog.

Chorus Frog

It was just yesterday, February 14th, that I heard my first frog calls of the new year while out walking on the Old Roadway near the Little Harpeth River. The calls sounded like a finger plucking or dragging against a comb. These calls are made by Chorus Frogs, which are often the first frog calls heard due to their resistance to the cool spring weather. I was overjoyed to hear their melodic cries as they called back and forth to one another, even adding in harmonies.

Although I have yet to hear them, other species to be listening for are the Spring Peepers’ peeps and American Toads soothing trills. Once spring has officially begun by mid-March, many other species will start to come out. By the end of spring in June, most species of frogs will have emerged, having either completed or are just starting their mating call rituals.

American Toad

I highly encourage you to go out to Warner Parks for an evening hike where there is a nearby water source. Take a stroll around Butler’s Field, the Old Roadway, or even stop by and sit at a shelter or picnic table at the Little Harpeth River or Willow Pond. From my own experience, going out and seeing the sun start to set where the luscious colors of the world seem to fade, there’s a comfort in knowing you are not alone as the loud “WAAAAH” of a nearby Fowler’s Toad fills the air.

 

Fowler's Toad

Here is a link I have found very helpful during my frog call listening journey: Identify by Sound (leaps.ms)