Toads and More Toads

Toads and More Toads by Earl Plato
Amphibian Voice spring newsletter has a little article I would like to share. It is by Donna Speers. It evokes memories of our local vernal ponds next to the C.N.R. tracks just off Garrison Road. I reproduce here part of her story.
“Mr. and Mrs. Toad swam around our pond and decided it would be a suitable place to live. They produced a never-ending string of eggs that draped over the stones, amonst the potted bulrushes and around the entire pond. Then Mrs. Toad, having done her part, hopped up the cedar ramp and into the garden with Mr. Toad still clinging tightly. He was about half her size. Mr. Toad returned to the pond alone and with the other male songsters began to sing. Their chorus rang throughout the neighbourhood and they sang us to sleep each night. They were comical to watch. If one of the males plopped into the water another would jump on its back to mate thinking it was a new female entering the pond. The male on the bottom would emit a release call. The two males quickly separated and headed in opposite directions. They would also jostle for the best spot on the log. There they would belt out one song after another to no avail as the one and only female had already left the yard.
Within days of the males leaving the pond was black with wiggling tadpoles. Over the next two weeks the tadpoles began to transform. It seemed that in no time they had developed their back legs shortly followed by their front legs. Soon there were tiny toads measuring about half an inch in lenght hopping everywhere, To me they were a miracle. I tried to imagine what it would be like to be that small with nothing to guide you but your instincts. Remember possible dangers were lurking at every hop.”
Thanks Donna for conjuring up some vivid memories.