The 21st Century has seen the UK frog population declining. The small amphibians often fascinate us so it would be sad if they became extinct. After all every creature has its place in this world.
Over the last few years the UK population of frogs was been hit by disease. This has meant a rapid decline in their number. In 2010 a killer virus wiped out thousands of frogs. For this blogger though fogs are alive and well, enjoying life in the city.
We moved into our current home in 1999. It is in a northern city of Yorkshire in the UK. The relatively small garden already had a pond in situ. The pond had a small stock of fish and in Spring a teaming population of Frogs. Throughout the year the frogs would seemingly vanish. Move a plant's leaves in Summer though and you were liable to glimpse a frog or even have one jump out at you. In Spring each year though the frogs would become visible. A veritable orgy would be ongoing for weeks in our pond, with so much frog spawn that some had to be removed.
Following local flooding in 2007 and extensive renovation works of our home it was decided that it would be prudent to fill in our pond. Sadly neighbours had been doing so for years resulting in more and more frogs each year filling our garden and pond. On a mild evening the garden was, as far as noises went, reminiscent of the deep south and the frog chorus.
Frogs however must have a "die hard" view of life. Almost five years on the frogs are still around. It is March 2012 and some have returned to their proverbial home. There may be few ponds now but they are looking for a good place to breed. Their desire is strong.
Over the last few days the odd frog has been espied. The latest one is shown in the image above. Opening the door early in the morning this frog was looking up at me. It had plonked itself in our dog's food dish that had been left to soak in water overnight. There the frog stayed all day then vanished.
Conclusion: We need to put more thought into building city ponds and more importantly into filling them in. Frogs once they have found a "home" will return year after year after year to breed. If the UK frog population is declining we can all play a part in halting that. For this blogger it is going to be providing a temporary wet area for the frogs to "play".
Over the last few years the UK population of frogs was been hit by disease. This has meant a rapid decline in their number. In 2010 a killer virus wiped out thousands of frogs. For this blogger though fogs are alive and well, enjoying life in the city.
We moved into our current home in 1999. It is in a northern city of Yorkshire in the UK. The relatively small garden already had a pond in situ. The pond had a small stock of fish and in Spring a teaming population of Frogs. Throughout the year the frogs would seemingly vanish. Move a plant's leaves in Summer though and you were liable to glimpse a frog or even have one jump out at you. In Spring each year though the frogs would become visible. A veritable orgy would be ongoing for weeks in our pond, with so much frog spawn that some had to be removed.
Following local flooding in 2007 and extensive renovation works of our home it was decided that it would be prudent to fill in our pond. Sadly neighbours had been doing so for years resulting in more and more frogs each year filling our garden and pond. On a mild evening the garden was, as far as noises went, reminiscent of the deep south and the frog chorus.
Frogs however must have a "die hard" view of life. Almost five years on the frogs are still around. It is March 2012 and some have returned to their proverbial home. There may be few ponds now but they are looking for a good place to breed. Their desire is strong.
Over the last few days the odd frog has been espied. The latest one is shown in the image above. Opening the door early in the morning this frog was looking up at me. It had plonked itself in our dog's food dish that had been left to soak in water overnight. There the frog stayed all day then vanished.
Conclusion: We need to put more thought into building city ponds and more importantly into filling them in. Frogs once they have found a "home" will return year after year after year to breed. If the UK frog population is declining we can all play a part in halting that. For this blogger it is going to be providing a temporary wet area for the frogs to "play".
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