Bayou Frog Symphony for You!
For the past three nights, bayou frogs of all kinds have serenaded us to sleep. It’s important that you know they do not do this every night all spring and summer long. It’s only on occasion, but when they decide to put on a concert, they really belt it out. I don’t know if it’s just the time of year or if they’re just uber-happy because of all the rain we’ve had. Whatever the reason, the frogs have been singing their little hearts out every night.
And last night, as I sat on the porch in the cool evening listening to this magnificent music of nature, I thought, “It would be so nice if all my friends could hear what I’m hearing right now.”
And now, drumroll please, as BW launches her first ever attempt at presenting audio in a blog post. I’m way past due on this, and only a little intimidated by the idea, but I forget that I’ve often been on the cutting edge, and if I don’t step it up I’m going to be left behind eating someone else’s technological dust while standing here, scratching my head, and wondering what in the heck happened while I was still using a cassette recorder. (Well, I’m really not THAT antiquated, although I did learn to type on a manual typewriter. )
If hearing the sound of frogs singing takes you back to your childhood, then wait until tonight, turn the computer up LOUD and sit out on the porch and listen. If you hate frogs, like my friend S.K. then you will be totally freaked out – so DO NOT LISTEN. But if you want to just feel like Nature is paying you a visit, or remember a visit to your grandmother’s house in the country, or that wonderful week at summer camp on that quaint lake, then set aside five minutes, sit back, relax and listen.
I think you’ll be glad you did! Then, come back here and share with us all the memories that being entrenched in this bayou cacophony brought back to you.
They are absolutely singing for joy!
[su_audio url=”https://bayouwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/marsh-rec_20140828-1512-FIX.ogg” width=”50%”]
See there? I knew you’d get it fixed! I was sitting here when you posted, and the recording just kept buffering. Then it disappeared, and I said – no need to email! Wendy’s on the case!
I love the recording, but I’m a huge fan of frogs. In spring and summer up in the hill country, they’re my favorite night sound – but of course you have many more. The tree frogs are my favorites – so much noise from such little critters!
Dixie Rose came straight to attention when I started the playback – she’s still about two feet away, giving the speakers the evil eye. I told her it’s just a bunch of love-lorn frogs, but I’m not sure she’s believing me. Her ears are back and flat – pretty funny.
I can hear at least three kinds on the recording. They do sound happy. I’ll bet ours are, too – we’ve had seven inches of rain in the past 48 hours!
Good for you on getting the recording. I posted one like this a couple of years ago, but haven’t tried it since. I’d have to go through the whole learning curve again, for sure!
I had a funny feeling that you were sitting there when my first attempt fell flat. Turns out, even though WordPress lists w4m as a supported file type, it was the wrong file type for this audio. Anyway, MuzicMan helped me figure it out, but I had already gone to one of those online free “conversion” websites and changed it to an mp3 just in case Itunes let me down. But he got it all figured out pronto! I’m excited. I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted to do this and just never took the time. The rain prompted me to go ahead and eat that elephant one bite at a time today! Next, ON TO VIDEO!!!!! I’m going to enlist Termite for editing purposes! Can’t wait! Tell Dixie Rose she’s really going to like “The Birds” coming soon!
COOL! I love to hear Cicadas too. I’m going to listen to it again later on. I was distracted while listening to the different Bayou sounds . Some really weird thoughts were racing through my mind. I think of these sounds as Bayou Music, so I was hearing “Daddy sang bass, Mamma sang tenor”… Was there a bullfrog in the mix? I kept trying to hear one. I think that’s when that song popped into my head (WHERE IT REMAINS)!!!
Steffi, these are ALL frogs. No cicadas at all. And no, there is not one bullfrog in the bunch. However, there is a big bullfrog on my “bird” audio that I’m putting up soon! I don’t want that song in my head all night, thank you very much!
No, no, no…I meant I also like the sounds of Cicadas. Speaking of likes AND dislikes, I don’t like hearing mosquitos! BTW, I still can’t get that tune out of my head either.
Awesome sound.
Glad you like! Did you get your camera?
This is hilarious! Love it. My speakers are crummy and I need a new pair of ear buds. I can still hear all the ruckus….wonder how many are singing at once? Would be interesting to know, no?
I wondered the same thing about how many there were when I was recording them. There were so many different sounds, it was absolutely amazing!
Thank you so much for sparking a wonderful memory. When we had our camp on the Racourcci, nearly every year for May opening of shrimp season we were serenaded by the frogs. When startled, they would all stop at once, settle down and then way up the bayou one would begin singing and like a huge wave they would all join in again.
I’ve really missed that. Wonderful sound!
It’s so good to hear from you, Cynthia. I think of you every time I pass that way and wonder if the new owners are making good memories, too. When I was recording these frogs, the majority of them were in the ditch, believe it or not, and every time a vehicle would come by, they would stop and start again, just as you described! If you ever need a taste of the bayou again, you know where Camp Dularge is!!!
Now that was just wonderful…thank ye for this gift.
That photo is, as ol’ Kim Chan would say, “bloody mah-velous!”
I love hearing the frogs sing. We live in the 3rd house from a small creek and the rains have really brought out the chorus of frogs in the evenings. We also have some Whippoorwills, a couple of male Mockingbirds and that big owl. If we get a lull in the traffic, we get serenaded by natures Glee Club.
So, do you think these are all called “rain frogs”, Cammy? Nature’s Glee Club! I like that!!!
Not all of them are “rain frogs”. I can hear a couple of big bull frogs bellowing! No offense to anyone but, those big ‘ol bull frogs make me hungry for a platter of fried frog legs!!
Not sure what all of them are. There are a few very tiny but loud ones in my garden.
Cammy, when you hear my recording with what I call a bull frog, you will see why I say I don’t hear any bull frogs in this recording. Maybe I just need to listen more closely. When I stand outside and listen (they performed again last night), I am amazed at all the different tones that I hear. I wonder if every tone is a different breed of frog?
While I’m no expert, here’s a few Frog Call facts…
The call of a frog is unique to its species.
Some frog calls are so loud, they can be heard up to a mile away.
Frogs call by passing air through the larynx in the throat. In most calling frogs, the sound is amplified by one or more vocal sacs, membranes of skin under the throat or on the corner of the mouth that distend during the amplification of the call.
Some frogs lack vocal sacs, but these species can still produce a loud call. Their buccal cavity is enlarged and dome-shaped, acting as a resonance chamber that amplifies their call. Species of frog without vocal sacs and that do not have a loud call tend to inhabit areas close to flowing water. The noise of flowing water overpowers any call, so they must communicate by other means.
The main reason for calling is to allow males to attract a mate. Males call either individually or in a group called a chorus. Females of many frog species produce calls reciprocal to the males’, which act as the catalyst for the enhancement of reproductive activity in a breeding colony. A male frog emits a release call when mounted by another male. Tropical species also have a rain call that they make on the basis of humidity cues prior to a rain shower. Many species also have a territorial call that is used to chase away other males. All of these calls are emitted with the mouth of the frog closed.
A distress call, emitted by some frogs when they are in danger, is produced with the mouth open, resulting in a higher-pitched call. The effectiveness of the call is unknown; however, it is suspected the call intrigues the predator until another animal is attracted, distracting them enough for its escape.
While the English onomatopoeic for a frog call is “ribbit”, the American Bullfrogs are noted as “jug-o-rum”!
I meant the ones near us have a few bull frogs in the chorus. Those I heard on your recording are definitely not bull frogs.:)
Oh oops! Sorry for the “duh” on my part, lol!
WTG BW. Loved the recording. Sounds like a marsh lol. Wonder why ???? Actually it sounds like home to me. I love it when the frogs “sing for the rain” as my EJ used to say. I have quite a fer tree frogs around my house and the set up a chorus every time it rains. I love it.
The audio is a grand addition to your blog!!!!
“Singing for rain” is what I’ve heard said around here, too! Thanks for the compliment, MM!
Thanks for the symphony! It’s a wonder you get a wink of sleep. Do they sing, croak, chirp, peep all night? I don’t recall these sounds from my childhood. We lived in Detroit. Perhaps they were down by the river; I don’t know. But they are a welcome sound now. Brings feelings of a fresh new spring, sunshiny days and cool clear nights.
I’m SO looking forward to the coming attraction! Thanks for adding these features to your posts.
I somehow find it comforting, Carolyn. Lets me know things are well in their world and gives me hope for our world! Yes, they start to slow down in the wee hours, but how they go on for hours is nothing short of amazing. I’m glad you enjoyed the audio!
Toads are in love here I think they love the shallow wet puddles early then the frogs hook up when water warms.
Lot of yakking this week I hope…
I think I’m ready for a Hobie.
Love to hear them, too! Probably why I’m constantly trying to save their little lives in our pool. Couple times a day, I try to get them out before they’re goners…. 🙂
I’m sure the frogs are very, very thankful! And they serenade you for saving their little lives!
Oh no Mitchell Guist died…..swamp people are sad…
His fans are grieving, for sure.
Out at Goat Pond tonight the frogs and toads wouldn’t shut up the resident dog barks at them.
The dogs bark at the frogs? Are you sure?
Well, folks, all good things must come to an end, or at least a temporary halt. Same with the frog symphony. They sang all night Saturday, all night Sunday, but last night, they fell silent. It’s just the strangest thing to me. Not one of them broke into a chorus. NOT ONE!!! Isn’t that just so bizarre? Maybe it’s like Capt. John posted . . . they all found a mate and they were doing something other than singing last night, lol!
I had a bullfrog run in today. Big one in grass while fly fishing. I nudged him? her? with toe turned and acted like was going to bite boot. I gave him a lil air lift at that into water.
So you drop kicked a bull frog? “Bull” frog indicates male, sir. : )