Spring ushers in myriad migrating birds. Some remain and claim breeding territories and others use our wetlands, woodlots and forests to find food to fuel the rest of their migration farther north. Spring also signals the reemergence of our amphibian species, the frogs, toads, tree frogs and salamanders.

First to emerge from hibernation were the wood frogs. They were making their duck quack sounding calls already in mid-March, even on some of those below-freezing nights. They have already completed their mating and egg laying. Following soon after them are the spring peepers. These tree frogs sound off with their peeping calls about dusk, but sometimes a few males can be heard “peeping” on cloudier days as well.

These two species and the other frogs and toads, of course, lay their eggs in water. With only a few exceptions, the young (tadpoles) hatch and begin feeding on plants or algae in the ponds, vernal pools, or even temporary mud puddles. Tadpoles breathe using gills and they also have tails.

As they feed and grow, the tails get slowly reabsorbed, the back legs begin to grow first, and then, almost overnight, the forelegs appear. As their legs emerge, the tadpoles transition from gill breathing to using lungs, and even their mouths and eyes change position on their heads.

Toads, the most terrestrial amphibians in the Times News region, have already been laying their eggs. They emerge a little later than the wood frogs and spring peepers. I found strings of toad eggs in a large puddle that forms every year in one of my favored birding areas in East Penn Township.

Last Saturday I observed 3/8-inch black, (exclamation point looking) tadpoles just emerging from the jellylike strings. On Monday, they didn’t appear to have grown, or to even have moved from their hatching position. I’m sure in a few days, barring any unusually dry weather, they will begin feeding on some algae in that puddle and will begin to mature. There are probably 5,000 or 6,000 of these tadpoles, but I know that between the grackles and other birds only a tiny percentage will even live long enough to mature into a ¾-inch toad. A few years ago, that same puddle dried up after a prolonged period of no rain and not even one of those thousands survived.

I saw my first green frog in a pond a few days ago and they are one of the latest to emerge from hibernation. The bullfrog is the last to emerge. Don’t expect to see them until the pond water temperature reaches nearly 70 degrees F. So, in mid-June you will again hear their deep croaking from a pond shore.

Remember that frogs and tree frogs can live months underwater in hibernation, breathing through their skin. In fact, if they dive into a pond after you frightened them, they could stay submerged for hours if they so choose.

While trying to glimpse all the migrating birds, look down once in a while or into a pond to observe our local amphibians. Get out there and enjoy. …

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: Frogs and toads have a clear third eyelid which they use to keep the eyes moist. This is called the:_______ A. Mascara holder, B. exoskeleton, C. nictitating membrane, D. epiglottis.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Hawks, after catching a larger prey item, will attempt to hide its kill by spreading its wings, and this is called mantling.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.