CLARENCE, N.Y. — Amphibians are one of the most overlooked and underappreciated creatures in the environment. Part of that may have to do with their secretive nature.
Staying hidden helps frogs, salamanders and others in their family to their insure their survival, and they are usually hard to find unless you know where to look.
But make no mistake, they are critically important to the environment. They are the proverbial "canary in the coal mine" for the health of the ecosystem.
"They use aquatic environments and terrestrial habitats, so they're exposed to those different habitats," explains Penny Felski, team leader and reptile & amphibian manager at the Buffalo Zoo. "So if your water is not pure that can be an indicator if you don't see the frogs living in there, or if there's something polluted in the environment, they'll tell you that, too."
Amphibian species worldwide have been in decline for decades, and that's why programs like "Frogwatch USA" are so important.
It's a nationwide program that gets citizen scientists involved. This will be the seventh year the Buffalo Zoo has sponsored a local chapter of the program.
"Citizen science is the collaboration between scientists and volunteers, and specifically for Frogwatch USA, we're asking our volunteers to learn the calls, the breeding calls of the local toads and frogs in the community and report their data sheets. They report that back to a national database," said Felski.
Early spring is an excellent time to observe frogs. They are just beginning their annual renewal of life. Nighttime is prime time for these amphibians. They are most active then, and you don't need to find large bodies of water to locate them.
With many species, vernal pools are the best habitat. A vernal pool is one that is temporary, small and shallow enough to evaporate at any time.
"There's not as many big predators in these pools," said Felski. "Usually fish and your larger species like your green frogs and bullfrogs need the more permanent bodies of water, and with permanent bodies of water comes more predation."
Volunteering for programs like Frogwatch are a great way for anyone to learn about nature, and perhaps in the process, reestablish a lost connection to Mother Earth.
"It just feels good for your mind, body, and soul to be out in nature, so this is a great way to fill that void that so many of us have now, sitting behind a computer screen all day, or, you know, watching TV all night," said Felski.
The first Frogwatch training session at the zoo takes place March 17th. Click here for more information on how to get involved.