American toads are beginning to emerge after spending the winter lying dormant. As the males congregate in wetlands and ponds, they begin calling loudly in the hopes of catching a female's attention. Each male has a slightly different frequency and volume to their call, which sets them apart from the rest of the crowd. #WetlandWednesday 🎥 Filmed with permission at @Fontenelle Forest | Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

As many of you guessed, what you heard in yesterday’s post was the mating call of American toads (Anaxyrus americanus) down in our pond. The male toads call by forcing air from their lungs through their larynx. As it passes through the larynx the air vibrates the vocal chords, creating the sound which is transmitted by the inflated vocal sac. The sound is a high-pitched, musical trill that typically lasts between 8 and 30 seconds. Toads display breeding site fidelity, meaning they often return t

American toads are beginning to emerge after spending the winter lying dormant. As the males congregate in wetlands and ponds, they begin calling loudly in the hopes of catching a female's attention. Each male has a slightly different frequency and volume to their call, which sets them apart from the rest of the crowd. #WetlandWednesday 🎥 Filmed with permission at Fontenelle Forest | Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Sound on! Who needs online dating when you could have a toad’s call for mating? This mating call is produced by male toads in order to attract females during the breeding season and to warn other rival males of their presence. Sometimes they can last up to thirty seconds! 🐸 | Shedd Aquarium

This is a Fowler's toad, known for its call like an nasal, buzzy trill that sounds like a baby crying. It's one of the sounds (and sights - if you're lucky) of spring! Though bird songs might get a little more fanfare, there is much to be said, and learned, from the cacophony of creatures who make their presence known around dusk every night. More at http://ow.ly/oi4r50zr7eG | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region