M. Jolly-Van Bodegraven

2 April Ashland, Hockessin, Delaware

Spring is training season at Ashland, and like the naturalist certification field trip, attending training is fun because we get the time to explore and learn without the added elements of managing a group of kids, working to keep them engaged and always thinking of what needs to happen next. Tonight we had training for naturalists who work with overnight groups, and after an overview of procedures in the lodge, the general consensus was we had spent enough time inside and we’d go to the nature center by way of the marsh to look around a bit before the next lecture review.

We actually started at the small pond up near the nature center, where wood frogs are reliably found. The only difficulty with the pond is it is usually well-covered by duck weed or other aquatic plants, but that’s probably why the frogs feel comfortable using it, too. We found a couple egg masses at the end of a stick in the water, some more around the edges, and we saw a few frogs under the water. But they were keeping quiet and hidden with such a group around. The spring peepers were setting up a notable chorus down in the marsh, so we headed down to search for more frogs. Although not nearly as loud as they can get. the spring peepers still impressed a couple of the teacher-naturalists who were less familiar with them, which was fun, and thanks to the patience of the group, we did get to see some at the base of the marsh grasses. They are really tiny frogs and seem to stay hidden in the grasses, so they’re not easy to find, and once you do, it can be hard to explain to others were to look. But the challenge just makes it that much more fun to find them.

The evening was running late, but the group was in no real hurry to get back to the indoor training, despite a general feeling we should. So we decided to just go see one more thing, a dozen or so wood frog egg masses some of us had seen in the marsh previously - this was the group the kids had gotten excited about last weekend. There were even more than the kids had seen, and the trip to look at them taught me a few new things. There are always a few new things to learn. While looking at the mass, and appreciating how conveniently it’s located for showing groups, one of the teacher-naturalists noticed red spotted newts eating the eggs. The reason it is often possible to find these animals around the same time as the wood frogs is because they find the eggs such an attractive food source. It also helps explain why the frogs have to lay these masses of hundreds, even thousands, of eggs. I also learned wood frogs are among the fastest frogs to mature. In addition to being the first to emerge in the spring - possible because they can actually freeze solid if the weather turns cold again, then thaw when it warms with no ill effects - wood frogs develop quickly. Eggs hatch within a few weeks, and they only spend three or four weeks as tadpoles.

Amphibians, and especially frogs, are a reliable highlight at Ashland, and many of the programs for children focus on them. We were also all pointed towards an online resource at the training for making sure we all know the various calls of the different species. It is hosted by the USGS here.