The Siren Song of the Spring Peeper

Little critters, BIG voices

I'm supposed to be posting about homemade yogurt, but that project ran into snags - actually, it ran into weird pink mold (that smells a bit of mouse pee) growing on all of my trial batches. I foolishly tried eating some of it, which was a minor mistake (the only result was a stomach ache - I would have considered it to be a major mistake if I'd had to go to the hospital to have my stomach pumped, but I lucked out). So, rather than share disgusting pix of frightening foodstuffs, I'll instead introduce you to one of my favorite signs of spring - the spring peeper! 🐸

After a long, silent winter, many animals sing out their joy of the returning spring. Tom turkeys gobble out their raucous love songs as they dance for the (often disinterested) hens. Loons warble out their haunting wails as they circle last year's nesting sites. Bluebirds, wrens, cardinals, robins, bluejays, and crows all twitter, squawk, and caw in a glorious morning cacophony. My favorite spring singer, however, is the teeny tiny spring peeper, little bitty frogs with great, big voices.

“Spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer), Sault College woodlot, Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma District, Ontario, Canada," by Fungus guy, 24 January 2012.

Spring peepers awaken in early spring, after hibernating through the winter; they produce a sort of natural antifreeze that protects their cells and organs until warmer temperatures return. When they wake up, they hasten to begin the search for mates. The males chirp up to 20 times per minute, hoping to attract female peepers - the females are most interested in males with the quickest and loudest song. After mating, the female will lay up to 900 eggs, laying the groundwork for the next generation of swampy minstrels.

The swamp that was featured in the video that opens this piece - perfect peeper habitat! 😉

The annual serenade of hundreds of male spring peepers calling out to the ladies is something I always welcome. Peepers live in the eastern half of North America, from southeastern Canada to Florida, reaching as far west as Minnesota and eastern Texas. If you are lucky enough to live in peeper range and close to a swampy habitat, consider venturing out on a warm spring night, to enjoy the beautiful chorus echoing through the woodland.

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If you would like to learn more about these small amphibious singers, here are a few links to get you started:

• American Wildlife Federation: Spring Peepers

• Farmer's Almanac: Fun Facts About Spring Peepers

• Wikipedia: Spring Peeper