I like frogs, particularly their voices. Recent research into a growing decline in insect populations brought the frogs to mind. Frogs eat insects.Â
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We have frogs in the swampy pond behind our house. I identify them by their voices. I’ve heard seven different species out there. That number is shrinking. Last,2018, year I counted five.Â
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The pond frogs are of interest to more animals than me. Our frog population feeds Green Herons and Broad-winged Hawks. A Green Heron spent the daylight hours of Oct. 15-18 catching frogs in the pond, fueling for migration I suppose. One of those days it was here from 10 in the morning until dusk.
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Each spring the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District flies a helicopter over the pond to drop chemical pellets that kill mosquito larvae. It works well.Â
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Perhaps too well for frogs and birds. Larvae are food for creatures in and of the pond. Is a steep drop in larvae numbers contributing to a loss of frogs? Will the herons figure this out, and find other places to feed?Â
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We make wild life complicated.