Toad Orgy

In the foreground there is a small group of toads (they are the lumps in the bottom center of the image) guarding strings of eggs

Spring is in full roar around here. The trees are greening up, flowers are blooming the birds are back and the pond is full of fish from small fry to some 4 pounders (we think). The pond is a fascinating environment. for example we had major toad orgy occurred yesterday starting early in the morning. They swam and called and laid eggs all day. This was followed by an exodus from the pond going north up the hill towards the market garden last night starting around dusk. Nate tried to eat a couple but found them nasty and spat them out. Their calls sound like some sort of alien invasion.

This morning there were still a few left overs in the pond, a few dead toads and a film of milt on the surface of the water. This afternoon one area of the pond where there is thick plant life a group of toads seem to be guarding garlands of eggs. In a week or so the pond should be boiling with tadpoles and than a second exodus from the pond to other places will occur with the new, small toads. It is highly likely the fish in the pond will be feasting on these toad eggs.

If the pond were in balance we would still have an annual toad orgy but there would also be herons, kingfishers and other birds that like to eat a toad on occasion so there would not be this explosion. In time the balance will happen but this is a young pond so the predator to prey ratio is way off, among other things.