Froggie Went A-Courtin' #phenology

We didn't even know there was a National Frog Month until a day or two ago. It comes in April, which is fitting, as that's usually when the snow and ice melts; waters open; grounds unfreeze; and, frogs go a-courtin'. Both the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have web pages full of facts about Minnesota's frogs, including pictures, recordings of calls and fascinating, off-beat items. One of the strangest "facts" we came across is the listing, on Bob Dylan's web site, of a complete(?) set of lyrics to the traditional English folk song, Froggie Went A-Courtin', listing Mr. Zimmerman's alter ego as the arranger.

wood frog(?) on screen door

Photo by J. Harrington

We all know (or should) about The Frog Prince and, according to one source, Aesop's The Scorpion and The Frog. A different source lists another eight of Aesop's fables that include frogs, but none also includes a scorpion.

green tree frog on hand rail

Photo by J. Harrington

Some time ago we found a description of many species of animals that benefit from stream restoration projects, such as those done by Trout Unlimited. Quite a few species of frogs are included. We were even more intrigued by the amphibian breeding phenology information provided in the report. Here's the chart:

The Frog

By Hilaire Belloc

Be kind and tender to the Frog,

   And do not call him names,

As ‘Slimy skin,’ or ‘Polly-wog,’

   Or likewise ‘Ugly James,’

Or ‘Gape-a-grin,’ or ‘Toad-gone-wrong,’   

   Or ‘Billy Bandy-knees’:

The Frog is justly sensitive

   To epithets like these.

No animal will more repay

   A treatment kind and fair;

At least so lonely people say

Who keep a frog (and, by the way,   

They are extremely rare).

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