THE RELEASE: by J. Dan McAskill 
     
    

    
     Ben Hoteling phoned in this year’s first report of wood frogs singing and, 
     
     within 24 hours, spring peepers were also reported. Several days later, many of the 
     
     ponds across the Island were awaking to the sounds of wood frogs and spring peepers. 
     
    

    
     This chorus heralds in spring for many of us. For the frogs and toads, it 
     
     marks the end of winter hibernation and movement from their overwintering sites to 
     
     the breeding ponds. Terrestrial species such as the American toad and wood frog tend 
     
     to overwinter in holes in the ground and a heavy enough cover of snow to provide the 
     
     level of insulation each species requires. Aquatic species such as green frogs and 
     
     northern leopard frogs overwinter in the mud at the bottom of ponds and other bodies 
     
     of fresh water that do not freeze right to the bottom. Frogs can withstand the 
     
     freezing of up to 40% of their bodies. 
     
    

    
     When the frogs emerge, the most males 
     
     migrate to ponds. As soon as the temperature 
     
     hits the right level, the chorus begins as, 
     
     depending on the species, they struggle to 
     
     defend territories and/or attract females. 
     
     The females and other males may be attracted 
     
     from long distances to the singing area. The 
     
     . ___ _I‘ females will choose the tenor of the voice 
     
     \ M ,n" they prefer and, for territorial species, 
     
    

    
     ‘ ~ 4 the quality of the breeding habitat. 
     
    

    
     Certain species such as wood frogs, which often use temporary bodies of water 
     
     sing, breed for a shorter period than the northern leopard frog and the green frog 
     
     which tend to use larger bodies of water and breed over a more prolonged period. 
     
     some sites, egg laying in wood frogs can be restricted to only one or two nights. 
     
     Hence the term explosive breeder! In many species, the females will leave the 
     
     breeding area shortly after breeding. 
     
    

    
     The Society would like to obtain more information on the breeding habitats and 
     
     the duration of singing for northern leopard frogs and green frogs. If you would 
     
     like to help us, please record their calls and, at the end of the summer, send them 
     
     to me. Please include a good description of the ponds location so this can be 
     
     plotted on maps and be summarized in a future article in the Island Naturalist. A 
     
     survey form is included at the back of this issue. 
     
    
   
   
    
              
     
    
   
   
    
     In 
     
    
   
   
    
     References: 
     
    

    
     Conant, Roger and Joseph T. Collins. 
     
    

    
     Amphibians. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 
     
    

    
     Francis R. 1984. Introduction to Canadian Amphibians and Reptiles. 
     
    

    
     National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa. 
     
    

    
     Natalie Helferty. 1995. The Duration of Desire in Frogs and Toads. 
     
     Toronto Field Naturalist 458 pp 19-20. 
     
    
   
   
    
     1991. A Field Guide to Reptiles and 
     
    
   
   
    
     Cook, 
     
    
   
   
    
     BIRDSEYE IN MAPLE: 
     
    
   
   
    
     The formation of the delicate birdseye pattern in the bark and wood of certain 
     
     maple trees has fascinated foresters and naturalists alike for many years. 
     
     this fascination has resulted in both speculation and hypotheses the definitive 
     
    
   
   
    
     sugar 
     
     While 
     
    
   
   
    
     cause has yet to be determined. The following causes have been put forward: 
     
     a) fungal infections induce a local deactivation of the cambium; 
     
     b) viruses causing a condition which is called stem pitting in 
     
     fruit trees; 
     
     c) suppression of tree growth early in the tree’s life; 
     
     d) genetic factors; and 
     
     e) environmental factors ranging from soil to climate. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The theories that bird pecks, adventitious buds, or adventitious root primordia cause 
     
     this condition have been argued to be misinterpretations. 
     
     The presence of the birdseye pattern in other species of maple, yellow birch,