Jeepers, peepers!

Toward the end of a beautiful Sunday spent outdoors on Spring Lake, I was reminded that we're still very much in the breeding season for Spring Peepers (March - May). Did you hear their evening chorus? Because peepers are nocturnal and so tiny (about an inch), we may never actually see them, let alone grab a picture. But jeepers, we sure can hear them! Each spring they lay their clutch of eggs in the water--up to 1000 of them, and those that thrive stay with us all winter, hibernating under logs or loose bark on trees. It's amazing that these little guys can survive, but I've read that even though their bodies freeze, the sugars in their cells act like anti-freeze.

I didn't take these photos (they're stock), but you can see how tiny peepers are. Depending on their surroundings, they can be tan to brown to olive-gray. Look for that "X" marking on their back. That's a peeper! We'll likely be treated to their evening chorus through the end of May. The adults will spend the summer in wooded areas, while the tadpoles will be swimming and growing in the lake. How tiny they must be!
And in case you haven't heard the peeper chorus, here's a SAMPLE of their evening concert. Familiar?
http://www.wodfriends.org/pseudacris_crucifer_chorus.mp3