Honestly, I feel regret not having followed through with my life-long interest in frogs and turtles and snakes. I blame it on Dr. Quay, who introduced me to birds, which have almost completely taken over my spare time the past 5 years. But there is hope for the world of slime and slither in my life. Between i-Naturalist and retirement, I think I can start squeezing in a little herpetology. First go – recorded this Upland Chorus Frog at Falls Lake today. Picture a 1-inch little frog strumming a plastic comb.
“Upland chorus frogs are most common in the Piedmont, although populations also exist in the Coastal Plain and the Mountains. They are usually found near grassy ditches, flooded fields and temporary wetlands. Outside the breeding season, upland chorus frogs are rarely encountered; however, non-breeding individuals are occasionally seen in woodlands, weedy meadows and swamps. The soft egg masses are attached to vegetation. The tadpole period lasts eight to 12 weeks.Upland chorus frogs call in winter and early spring. Their call is a regularly repeated “crrreek,” sounding similar to fingers running over the teeth of a comb.”