Frogs on my mind

News flash: The live tadpoles and baby frogs sold at pet shops as fish food are of one species of frog - the American bullfrog. 

People who take these into the nature reserves should know that American bullfrogs are an invasive species. Tadpoles and froglets (young frogs) are more harmful as they disappear into the ecosystem. They will live within it eating and growing unseen by most. The local wildlife will end-up on their dining menu. Bullfrogs are indiscriminate feeders, they eat anything they can fit in their large mouths, which will put small birds, insects, fish, reptiles, frogs and mammals at risk. 
They can do the same damage as :-

• Cane toads in Australia and many other countries
• Pythons invading the Florida Everglades in North America
• Snakeheads in the North American waterways

They can wipe out native species.

2 1/2 weeks on ......

Kudos to NParks and their contractor at Bishan Park in finally removing all the American bullfrogs from the Lotus Garden pond. 

No bullfrogs can be seen hiding under lotus leaves nor can one hear their deep resonant bellow across the pond. 

As for the signage that lists the American bullfrog as part of the park's biodiversity/ecosystem, it will not be corrected. However, my feedback will be taken into consideration only when the signage is due for replacement. Having dealt with interpretive signage previously I know that it doesn't cost that much to replace but I respect the decision made.

In the mean time people will continue to be misinformed via the signage that is there 24x7.

1 1/2 weeks on and there still American bullfrogs in the pond

Bullfrog with a released pleco (sucker fish from S. American)

Bullfrogs are still around although their numbers are smaller. I chatted with a park regular and the man said people purposely bought frogs to restock the pond. Guess people read the signage at the Info Point area where American bullfrogs (an invasive species) are listed as wildlife that people will see in the park.

Less bullfrogs but they have started to lay eggs

There are significantly fewer bullfrogs today (1 Nov 2013) but there are still enough around to cause damage to the ecosystem. The frogs that are left are half the size of those I saw on Monday. They are less afraid and I could get real close to them to photograph them with a macro lens.

The bad news is even though there are fewer frogs, they have started to lay eggs. This is what I photographed this morning - a pair doing just that. I've sent NParks this photo and urged them to continue catching the remaining frogs.

Over 50 mature American bullfrogs released into Bishan Park

I went for my morning walk at Bishan Park yesterday and when I got to the Lotus Garden, I heard a call of an American bullfrog then another and another. It appeared that someone released bullfrogs into the pond. Upon going around the pond it became apparent how many frogs were released - over 50. There were frogs sitting on rocks, under rocks, on the grass verge, and in the water.

I walked back to my car and grabbed the camera. One of the regulars at the park had said that there were many bullfrogs over at the lotus pond at Ang Mo Kio Town West Garden but I never made it a priority to photograph the frogs till now.

Alien species breeding at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Spotted in a pond at Evolution Garden a healthy population of American Bullfrog tadpoles. 

How can this alien species be allowed to breed at the Singapore Botanic Gardens?

American Bullfrogs can destroy local ecosystems, yet people persist to release them into our ecosystem. They are voracious predators that eat anything they can swallow, which includes numerous species of frogs, lizards, fish, birds, mice and even their own kind. See previous post 'Someone dumped bullfrogs into the stream'. Shouldn't they be systematically removed to ensure that the population does not explode? 

Three nights of ‘Frogging’ Fun

Besides looking for wildlife in the day, we went out at night with our guides to look for things that go hop, hop, hop in the night. We came away with a haul of frog photos over three nights. The experience left me wanting more ‘frogging’ fun.

Though there are many amphibian species, more than Singapore, it does not mean the rain forest eco-system in Borneo is not under threat. It is and we need to do more to save these amazing creatures and many other animals from extinction.

Filed-eared Tree Frog aka Borneo Eared Tree Frog. These tree frogs are found in lowland rainforest up to elevations of 400 metres. They are most commonly found suitable breeding ponds, clinging to nearby vegetation a few metres from the ground.

The Wallace's flying frog got its name from the 19th-century British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who first described the species in 1869. Also known as parachute frogs, Wallace's flying frogs inhabit the dense tropical jungles of Malaysia and Borneo.
To see more of these amazing creatures head on over to my Flickr site.

The Resident Common Bronzeback's Feast

Still busy photographing the pair of Kings. They aren't finished with their parenting duties yet. When the helper shouts from the backyard below, "MDM, COME SNAKE!!!"
What snake could it be? As I raced to grab the macro lens just in case I needed it. Upon arriving at the backyard, I initially couldn't see the snake. The helper said black snake but I didn't see a black snake. It was only till she point it out that I saw it and realized that the snake was the resident Common Bronzeback that we spotted last year. It indeed preyed on the Four-lined Tree Frogs as it had one in its mouth. The frog was frantic and yelping away trying to get out of the snake strong grip.As this was a natural occurrence in the wild, I did not intervene in the struggle between predator and prey. Instead, I silently observed the scene and documented it.
One thing that became apparent during the 30-minute struggle, the Common Bronzeback was obviously non-venomous. It had a strong grip on the frog and seemed to be strangling it with it mouth.
The snake dragged the frog behind my potted plants and fell with it prey through the mesh netting. Froggie thought is would try to cling onto the clothe peg and release itself from the vice like grip.Snake and frog eventually fell on to the clothe stand in my neighbor's backyard.They stayed there for another about 15 mins before the snake disappeared with the frog. It could have slithered into the drain to quietly finish off its prey.

The Toad That Lives In The Leaf Litter

Have you ever walked in the nature reserve and heard the shrill calls of what sounds like frogs all around you? The calls seem to come from the leaf litter that is scattered on the ground.I've done this before, gone in search of the creature that calls from under the leaf litter. It isn't easy but when you do find one it is like hitting jackpot. I had to go amphibian hunting again just for fun and to take a fresh set of photos. Once I located a possible location, I slowly lifted leaf by leaf and initial layer revealed a large spider. Then out pops the Four-ridged Toad the owner of those calls in the forest.Once I was through with photographing this toad, I gently placed all the leaves back on it.

The Day Kermit Leapt Out At Me

Operation palm tree inspection was on my mind when a movement on the ground caught my eye. Stop!!! Green frog leapt into my head as my eyes looked at the frog that was a little awkward on the grass. I knew it was a species of tree frog but something I have not seen before.
People like me will take photo first and ask questions later. Took this shot first before swapping the 300 mm to my favorite macro lens.This rather large tree frog looked at me with an "I am lost look". After snapping a couple more photos, I decided to bag him to relocate him a correct environment for a tree frog.As I was still not convinced that it was a native species, I went in search of my walking animal dictionary to see if he knew what species the frog was. I found my walking encyclopedia at the hut with his plastic bag of coffee with milk having a smoke. One look at Kermit, he confirmed my suspicions that Kermit was alien to Singapore. He also said that it is legally sold here in the pet trade. Hmmm... someone tossed out a poor defenseless frog.
Kermit, now is my long kang frog that sits on a rock in a tall glass vase happily munch crickets that I bought for it. After my mum's funeral, I will decide if I should keep it or hand Kermit over to the Zoo. I'll consult the zoo keepers and if I do keep Kermit, I will need their help to build an environment that is suitable for a docile large Green Tree Frog.

Someone Dumped Bullfrogs Into The Stream

I head the call of a bullfrog yesterday morning by the stream but didn't think to investigate since it sounded like the Banded Bullfrog. However, this morning I wondered by the stream at the start of my walk and what do I see two large American Bullfrogs. Once my eyes got accustomed to the glare, I started picking out bullfrog, after bullfrog. Oh no!
I know they weren't there the last month when I last walked past the stream but now there were more than 10 full grown bullfrogs right before my eyes.
So what's the big deal you might ask just a couple of frogs released by someone into the stream? Well for one it is an alien species that can do a lot of ecological damage to our already very limited and threatened fauna. The American Bullfrog preys on any animal it can overpower and stuff down their throats. They can eat rodents, small turtles, snakes, lizards, fish, other frogs including their own species, and birds.To make matters worse, they thrive very well in warm climates and have longer life expectancy. A female bullfrog is an extremely prolific egg layer, she can lay as many as 20,000 eggs a clutch and have multiple clutches a year. At the rate in which they breed their enormous appetites, our native species will be wiped out in no time.
The bullfrogs were brought in originally to be commercially bred for frogs' legs. These bullfrogs are readily available in wet markets and supermarkets for people to buy. The young frogs also get sold in the aquarium business as food for ornamental fish like the Arowana. They have already colonized our reservoirs - MacRitchie, Lower Pierce and Seletar and even Singapore Botanic Gardens as people release them during religious festivals such as Vesak Day. Today, they have spread further into a stream that is home to indigenous Tiger Barb.

Another Kopstein's Bronzeback

Took a different route this morning and it proofed to be a very fruitful walk. Spotted a tiny stick thin praying mantis that was mimicking a stick insect but it was too small to photograph. It disappeared when I tried to reposition myself for a better shot. Half way through the route, I spotted a snake sitting on a fern tree frond. I had dreamed of seeing a snake on a fern tree frond but I envisioned a male Wagler's Pit Viper but I can't complain as I like my snake encounters. I knew it was a bronzeback but which one I could not tell. The snake obliged me with some great shots but as I turned to reposition myself, it vanished never to be found again. Update: this bronzeback has been identified as the Kopstein's Bronzeback. Thanks ShaoWei.As I was about to move on, I spotted a Copper-Cheek Frog sitting on a Dumb Cane leaf. Hmmm... did I interrupt a hunt?Doubling back on my way home, I found a skink sunning itself. What made this shot work for me was the background.Looking up I spot another Copper-Cheek sitting pretty on a green giant yam leaf. Green-on-green.

A Morning At The Singapore Botanic Gardens

Went to SBG in the hopes of seeing my old friend the Stork-billed Kingfisher. Instead, I met a photographer whom I had met last year while watching the Stork-billed fish at Symphony Lake. It was from him that I caught up with the SBG birdie updates. He had sad news the Stork-billed is gone and this year there wasn't any fluttering of little wings. He thinks that the nesting had failed and the Stork-billed Kingfishers left.
Can't blame the birds as the lake isn't what it use to, the water level has dropped so much that the birds can no longer dive for fish in their favorite locations.
The photog also told me that there was a sunbird nest that was in a perfect location for photographers and that they were looking forward to seeing little sunbirds peek out of the nest. However, the nest and its contents got stolen (unthinkable but yes us humans can be downright bad for animal kind). He then pointed out a Pink-necked Dove with her brood of two. He says she's already brought up two babies and this is her second nesting. I had to take a family portrait of these birds.I then mosied along to the heliconia garden to look for sunbirds, and I managed to catch this juvenile Crimson Sundbird.At the Ginger Garden, spotted my friend with a pair of Magpie Robins. He tells me a breeding pair and proceeded to feed the birds. This here is the female and below is the male. These are also my best shots of the Magpie Robins, which I nicked named crazy birds . The pair that used to live in my housing estate would not stay still for me. They are sadly gone too and no longer wake us up with their happy song every morning.We headed to Swan Lake to see if the Stork-billed was there as we got there we met another photographer who said the bird isn't there too. All that I found was a Bull Frog, someone released this into the lake.

The Tree Frogs Are Back

The Painted Bronzeback that was in my garden recently did not get all the Four-Lined Tree Frogs. Though not as many as before, they are back and laying eggs again in my water lily pots This male was photographed sitting on a water lily leaf and there are masses of eggs in the pots.

Poking Around In Pools of Stagnant Water

The daily downpour has created pools of stagnant water in Mossie Alley. This means more hoards of blood suckers but the pools also have other creatures living in them. Tiny frogs that use these pools during the wet weather. This is what draws me into Mossie Alley, litter frogs.This frog was well hidden among the leaf litter in the pool and one has to have a sharp pair of eyes to spot these frogs that are less than 2 cm big.The Puddle Frogs are still not to be found in the pools.

Copper-Cheeked Frog

Finally, sometime to go for a walk this morning and I chose well. Didn't go far but I had a good day out scmoozing with my wild neighbors that were out.
I stopped by a clogged stream which had stagnant water as I ran my eyes across the water I spotted this little frog sitting on some dried leaves.

I got in closer and set over the stream to photograph this frog.Thus far all the Copper-Cheeked Frogs that I've encountered were in the day. This one stayed out till close to noon.

Wild Food - Reptiles & Amphibians

This is a rather sad and painful way to go - grilled alive. The monitor lizard in the back is like a petrified carcass still trussed up mouth gaping and its tongue sticking out. The other two in the foreground are very much alive.A very dead snake that is totally discolored. I think it is on the verge of decay as flies were congregating around the dead snake.Frogs trying to flee but to no avail. They have been strung together with a rattan string that was pierced through their thighs. Grilled frogs anyone?

Resident Tree Frogs Having A Go

This pair are in a semi-catatonic state as the female is releasing her eggs and the male fertilizing them. The eggs and sperm are released into the form in the background, that is the medium in which the eggs will stay till the tadpoles hatch out in about a day. Sometime they are laid above the water and the little tadpoles wriggle out of the form and drop into the water.I first allowed the four-lined tree frogs to breed in my garden to photograph, now I have a healthy population of tree frogs in my garden. I don't mind these frogs as they aren't too noisy unlike the common toad that my neighbors have. I suspect that the frogs are also food for baby monitor lizards. I found little one living in a PVC pipe near my fence.