A fenced boardwalk at the North corner of the Medford Campus Community Building parking lot leads to a pond with an overlook and some chairs. This shady retreat has some noteworthy inhabitants–a family of frogs. Close inspection reveals at least five individuals by the edge of the pond or floating on a lily pad. They are Northern Green frogs (Rana clamitans), native to New Jersey, and distinguishable from the similarly-colored Bullfrog by the lateral ridges that extend from their eardrums down their body. The diameter of the eardrums, exceeding that of the eye, indicates they are males, as do their yellow throats. This species has a longevity of 5 to 10 years. While you are almost guaranteed a sighting of these creatures, you might have to wait a few minutes to hear their individual call resembling a single plucked banjo string. Better still, you might witness a chorus of males responding to each other with boings followed by croaks.
Check out this musical family when you are in the area.
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