Second Frog of Spring

Photograph by Suzanne Collins - CNAH

In the Midwest typically the first frog mating call you'll hear is the Boreal Chorus Frog. The SECOND mating call comes shortly after.

This second frog lives throughout the eastern US, north from Canada, south to Central Florida, west to the Kansas/Missouri border. This species doesn't live in Kansas City, but just south of KC along the border to Oklahoma. The mating call sounds like the call of a baby bird. This species can be identified by the faint X on its back. If you see/hear this creature you're lucky. This is a threatened species!

Second frog -  pictured above.

What is this species?
1) Cricket Frog
2) Spring Peeper
3) Leopard Frog
4) None of the above

What makes this species interesting?
1) Cannibalistic
2) Females lay over 10,000 eggs
3) Males fight for territory
4) All the above

Answers to this week's blog in the next several days.

Answers - First Frog of Spring

An adult specimen from Anderson County, Kansas

Image © Suzanne L. Collins, 2001

An adult specimen from Anderson County, Kansas

Image © Suzanne L. Collins, 2001



It's been in the 60's and 70's almost all week in Kansas City. Crocuses are starting to bloom and hyacinths are about 2 weeks away from blooming. But what I listen for are the sounds of spring.

The first sound I always listen for is a particular species of frog. This frog lives in eastern and central North America. They call as early as late February in temperatures as low as 35 degrees. I've even heard their mating calls while it's snowing outside! If you live near a roadside ditch, pond or stream you've probably heard these tiny creatures. Males congregate in large numbers (only males call) and can be heard up to a quarter mile away. The call - a "crreek" lasting 1-2 seconds, sounds similar to running your fingers down the length of a comb.

A picture of this amphibian is above.

What is this frog?
A) Bullfrog
B) Cricket Frog
C) Leopard Frog
D) Chorus Frog

Answer - D - The Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata)

The reproductive ability of this frog is astounding. How many eggs can the female lay?
A) 500
B) 1000
C) More than 1000

Answer - C - Female can lay up to 1500 eggs!

Want to hear the mating call?
Go to http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0155

NOTE: According to Joe Collins - Co-Author of Amphibians, Reptiles and Turtles of Kansas - http://www.amazon.com/Amphibians-Reptiles-Turtles-Kansas-Collins/dp/0972015450
the Western Chorus Frog name and genus/species has changed to the Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata)

Next blog - next week

First Frog of Spring



An adult specimen from Anderson County, Kansas

Image © Suzanne L. Collins, 2001

An adult specimen from Anderson County, Kansas

Image © Suzanne L. Collins, 2001



It's been in the 60's and 70's almost all week in Kansas City. Crocuses are starting to bloom and hyacinths are about 2 weeks away from blooming. But what I listen for are the sounds of spring.

The first sound I always listen for is a particular species of frog. This frog lives in eastern and central North America. They call as early as late February in temperatures as low as 35 degrees. I've even heard their mating calls while it's snowing outside! If you live near a roadside ditch, pond or stream you've probably heard these tiny creatures. Males congregate in large numbers (only males call) and can be heard up to a quarter mile away. The call - a "crreek" lasting 1-2 seconds, sounds similar to running your fingers down the length of a comb.

A picture of this amphibian is above.

What is this frog?
A) Bullfrog
B) Cricket Frog
C) Leopard Frog
D) Chorus Frog


The reproductive ability of this frog is astounding. How many eggs can the female lay?
A) 500
B) 1000
C) More than 1000

Answers later this week

Did the Moon cause Japan's Earthquake?

I've had several people contact me regarding the article at the bottom of the page.

Is it true - or even partially true? I was incredulous.

Before you read any further see if you can answer these 2 questions:

The moon's gravitational pull affects:
A) Tides
B) Weather
C) Earthquakes
(you can circle up to three)

The land under you rises and falls about a meter a day:
A) True
B) False

I'm a fan of Phil Plait - creator of Bad Astronomy. If you want to read the REAL SCIENCE behind this and a much better answer than I can possibly give check out Phil's site - http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/03/11/no-the-supermoon-didnt-cause-the-japanese-earthquake/

The answers to the questions above are taken directly from Phil's blog. Thanks Phil!

Next blog - next week

Winter Star Party

My wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last weekend. While we were making plans on where to go I noticed an event that has been on my life's "bucket list" - one of the largest amateur astronomy events in the US.

Imagine gazing at the night time sky, temperatures in the low 70's, on a sand beach with the ocean 30 feet away. You can see why the Winter Star Party - http://www.scas.org/wsp.html in the Florida Keys is so popular. This is the first major star party of the year in North America, attracting over 500 participants. Astronomers from all over the world leave the snow and cold to eat fresh seafood, listen to renowned speakers and observe all night long.
Star parties are popular throughout the world as amateur astronomers gather in some of the darkest, most remote locations to observe truly dark skies.
Some of the nearby star parties:
Heart of America Star Party near Kansas City - http://www.hoasp.org/
Nebraska Star Party - http://www.nebraskastarparty.org/
Okie-Tex Star Party - http://www.okie-tex.com/

Many bring large computerized telescopes. I had the chance to observe through 2 "monsters" - a 32" and a 25" (size of mirrors). The 32" stood about 15 feet high and the 25" stood about 12 feet high. You obviously need a ladder. I spent 3 nights observing galaxies, "exploding" stars (supernova), "exploded" stars (planetary nebula) and the "coolest" planet in the skies - Saturn. Not only are the rings big and beautiful but counted 6-8 moons around the ringed planet. Since Cape Canaveral is so close we had many speakers from NASA updating on the latest discoveries.

Interesting fact - Did you know at the beginning of the Civil War the Union Navy controlled Key West? Matter of fact more cannons were stored there than any place in the US. The citizens of Key West voted on which side they wanted to support - Union or Confederate. Voted Confederate. The Union Navy told the residents they would aim all their cannons at the city. Key West had a re-vote - Union won this time!

Key West - only city where residents enlisting as Confederates had to travel NORTH!

Next blog - next week.

Answers - Are You Smarter than a Middle Schooler?

Have you seen the TV show - Are You Smarter than a 5th grader? It's one of my favorites! I feel dumb when I can't answer the 3rd grade geography question. I kick myself when I don't know the answer to a 5th grade science question!

This was my 3rd year writing the astronomy tests for Middle and High school age kids at this weekend's Northeast Kansas Regional Competition of the Science Olympiad:

National website - http://www.soinc.org/
Ks website -  http://webs.wichita.edu/scienceolympiad/

These kids are the future of America. Some of the best and brightest. At this year's event there were 22 categories ranging from Ecology to Disease Detection to Mousetrap Powered Vehicles. Winners go to the State Championships in Wichita. The National Championships are held in Madison, Wisconsin.

I've taken 3 questions from the Middle School test - not too easy/not too hard to see if you're smarter than a Middle Schooler.

Here goes:

1) Earth rotates...
A) Clockwise
B) Counter-clockwise

Answer - B

2) All the planets in the solar system orbit the sun in the same direction.
A) True
B) False

Answer - A

3) Which planet in our solar system has the most moons discovered so far?
A) Uranus
B) Neptune
C) Saturn
D) Jupiter

Answer - D-  Jupiter has 63 moons.

Also, which schools were the overall winners?

Middle School Division

1st - California Trail Middle School  2nd - Leawood Middle School

 

High School Division 

1st - St. James Academy  2nd - Olathe East High School

So.... Are you REALLY smarter than a Middle Schooler? Be honest!

Next blog - next week

Are You Smarter than a Middle Schooler?

Have you seen the TV show - Are You Smarter than a 5th grader? It's one of my favorites! I feel dumb when I can't answer the 3rd grade geography question. I kick myself when I don't know the answer to a 5th grade science question!

This was my 3rd year writing the astronomy tests for Middle and High school age kids at this weekend's Northeast Kansas Regional Competition of the Science Olympiad:

National website - http://www.soinc.org/
Ks website -  http://webs.wichita.edu/scienceolympiad/

These kids are the future of America. Some of the best and brightest. At this year's event there were 22 categories ranging from Ecology to Disease Detection to Mousetrap Powered Vehicles. Winners go to the State Championships in Wichita. The National Championships are held in Madison, Wisconsin.

I've taken 3 questions from the Middle School test - not too easy/not too hard to see if you're smarter than a Middle Schooler.

Here goes:

1) Earth rotates...
A) Clockwise
B) Counter-clockwise

2) All the planets in the solar system orbit the sun in the same direction.
A) True
B) False

3) Which planet in our solar system has the most moons discovered so far?
A) Uranus
B) Neptune
C) Saturn
D) Jupiter

Answers - next couple of days.
Also, the NE KS Middle and High School winners.