A banjo and a jug


Let’s stick with our aquatic theme of recent weeks and get to know two amphibian inhabitants of our lakes and ponds: the

align=justifylet’s stick with our aquatic theme of recent weeks and get to know two amphibian inhabitants of our lakes and ponds: the >

 green frog and the  American bullfrog .

 

We’ll start with the largest species in Connecticut, the bullfrog, which can measure up to 8 inches long. In coloration, it is usually greenish, sometimes brown, and can be confused with the smaller green frog, especially if not full-grown.

What the bullfrog lacks is a line or ridge running down its back on each side, from behind the circular "ear" (technically, the tympanum) to its hindquarters. The absence of this line gives the bullfrog a markedly different shape from the green frog, and is useful for separating the two species.

Bullfrogs are omnivorous predators, known to take small birds, many types of insects, small crustaceans, and frogs smaller than themselves. In breeding season, they lay thousands of eggs that float on the surface of the water. The ones that survive to become tadpoles take up to three full years to reach maturity and transform into frogs.

The unmistakeable call of the bullfrog is the deep, throbbing sound often written out as "jug-o-rum" and so characteristic of swamplands, particularly in the South.

The green frog averages half the size of a bullfrog, about 3 to 4 inches in length. Its coloration is most often bright green, but it can vary. As mentioned previously, it can be identified by the dorsal ridges. Its diet is similar to that of the bullfrog, excluding the larger prey items.

Green frog eggs are laid in water and take one or two years to mature into full-grown frogs. As for its call, the green frog has an equally distinctive one that sounds like the plucking of a banjo string.

Both the green frog and American bullfrog are common throughout our region. In winter, they will hibernate underwater and emerge again in spring.

 

A reminder:


 Next weekend, Aug. 9 and 10, is the Sharon Audubon Festival. I hope to see you there!

 

 

Fred Baumgarten is a naturalist and writer. He can be reached at fredb58@sbcglobal.net. His blog is at thatbirdblog.blogspot.com. 

Latest News

A scenic 32-mile loop through Litchfield County

Whenever I need to get a quick but scenic bicycle ride but don’t have time to organize a group ride that involves driving to a meeting point, I just turn right out of my driveway. That begins a 32-mile loop through some of the prettiest scenery in northern Litchfield County.

I ride south on Undermountain Road (Route 41 South) into Salisbury and turn right on Main Street (Route 44 West). If I’m meeting friends, we gather at the parking area on the west side of Salisbury Town Hall where parking is never a problem.

Keep ReadingShow less
Biking Ancramdale to Copake

This is a lovely ride that loops from Ancramdale north to Copake and back. At just over 23 miles and about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, it’s a perfect route for intermediate recreational riders and takes about two hours to complete. It’s entirely on quiet roads with little traffic, winding through rolling hills, open countryside, picturesque farms and several lakes.

Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of farmstands that are worth a quick visit. There is only one hill that might be described as steep, but it is quite short — probably less than a quarter-mile.

Keep ReadingShow less
Taking on Tanglewood

Aerial view of The Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass.

Provided

Now is the perfect time to plan ahead for symphonic music this summer at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. Here are a few highlights from the classical programming.

Saturday, July 5: Shed Opening Night at 8 p.m. Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra as Daniil Trifonov plays piano in an All-Rachmaninoff program. The Piano Concerto No. 3 was completed in 1909 and was written specifically to be debuted in the composer’s American tour, at another time of unrest and upheaval in Russia. Trifonev is well-equipped to take on what is considered among the most technically difficult piano pieces. This program also includes Symphonic Dances, a work encapsulating many ideas and much nostalgia.

Keep ReadingShow less
James H. Fox

SHARON — James H. Fox, resident of Sharon, passed away on May 30, 2025, at Vassar Brothers Hospital.

Born in New York, New York, to Herbert Fox and Margaret Moser, James grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. He spent his summers in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, where he developed a deep connection to the community.

Keep ReadingShow less