A Visit from Mr Frog

We have been talking about frogs a lot lately. For those who asked, Joshua's presentation of his Frog Report at the school assembly went well, although he did pick his nose throughout the entire song that the class performed after giving their reports. Sigh!

Also to those who asked for more details, yes, the Jesus Christ Frog is a real frog. That's its colloquial name, of course. Steve Parish's Amazing Facts About Australian Frogs & Reptiles, page 13, says:

"The tiny Rockhole Frog of the Kimberley and Arnhem Land, sometimes called the "Jesus Christ" Frog, skitters across water without breaking the surface film. It moves fast, weighs little and skips across the water at a low angle, like a skimming stone."

This evening we returned home from dinner with some friends from church to find a frog at our doorstep!We have been listening attentively to the Frog Chorus from the canal next-door each evening, and mostly hear Western Banjo Frogs. The Banjo Frog call is an easily recognisable "Plonk!" or, as Anna described it in her frog report, "Bop!"Yesterday was the first time I have heard a Motorbike Frog, although we hear them a lot at the farm in Albany, and we have caught and raised Motorbike Frog tadpoles. The Motorbike Frog call is also quite distinctive. It sounds like a small motorbike revving up to change gears.
Close up, it was clear to see that our visitor was a Motorbike Frog. The kids were all very excited to see a large frog up close, since we have mostly been observing tadpoles lately. We should start to see some of our tadpoles growing legs now that the weather is warming up. (We have a smaller aquarium with them here at home as well as the one at Joshua's school.)Mr Frog was even so kind as to pose rather nicely against a concave corner of our brick wall. Well, unless you interpret his movements to indicate that he was trying to avoid being trampled upon by four young children. Sensible frog!
Anna's report on Frogs is below. She dictated it on Monday and then we spent much of Tuesday morning listening to frog calls online. Abigail and Samuel were just as keen as Anna to listen to cluster around the computer desk and listen intently while I clicked through photos on the ALCOA Frog Watch site for the Swan Coastal Plain.
The Story of Frogs
By Anna
Frogs catch small, teeny-tiny fish with their sticky tongues. Some frogs eat other frogs. Snakes eat frogs.
Frogs use their teeth for holding food in place in their mouths. They can use their front feet to push food into their mouths.
Frogs can breathe and drink through their skin.
Rocket Frogs have long legs that are very strong. They can hop very fast and far.
Some frogs live in the ground in burrows. Other frogs live in trees and are called Tree Frogs.
Tree Frogs sleep in the day and wake up in the night. At night they make their noises, calling for other frogs.
Long-footed Frogs make a noise that sounds like the moo from a cow.
Banjo Frogs go “Bop!” There are Banjo Frogs living near our house, in the water in the creek.
Frogs lay eggs in water. The eggs hatch into tadpoles. The tadpoles grow back legs, then front legs, then their tail goes away and they become frogs.