Big Night

Amphibians on the move

Big Night

Go slow
Go slow and know that everything is magical
Go slow and know that everything is mystical
Go slow
'Cause tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight is a big night
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight is a big night, a big, big, big night

The rain plop plops, creatures crawl and hop to join in the dance and choir
Everything is wet, everyone is shining with desire
To the vernal pools, the place they will mate
Traveling for days, how do they find their way
Oh I wish I could follow along, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

Go slow and know that everything is magical
Go slow and know that everything is mystical
Go slow
'Cause tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight is a big, big, big, night
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight is a big night, a big, big, big night

Spotted Salamanders, one inch long peepers with x's on their backs
Gorgeous warty toads and lone ranger Wood Frogs each wearing a black mask
These are the frogs who freeze solid in the cold
How do they survive, well they're full of glucose
Which barely keeps them alive, la, la, la, la, la ,la, la, go slow

'Cause tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight is a big, big, big, night
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight is a big, big, big, night, a big, big, big night
Go slow 
Go slow and know
Go slow and know that everything is mystical

Spring Peeper on an Alder leaf / Pseudacris crucifer / Credit: Ken Sturm/USFWS

I am enamored by the fact that the spring migration of amphibians from the woods to where they breed in vernal pools and other bodies of water is called Big Night. These creatures are small (Spring Peepers only grow to be one inch long), but the night is big - full of excitement, wonder, and resilience. There is always more than one Big Night each spring. Any rainy night when the temps are around 40 degrees or above is the ideal time for amphibians to make the trek to water. They breathe through their lungs and skin; they need to be wet to absorb oxygen, thus the rainfall.

If only I had known about Big Night when I was a child. To have been able to have seen these cuties up close. To have had the opportunity to help these little gems get across the road safely. To have learned more about how they survive through winters. To have known all of their names. Sure, as a kid there were many encounters with salamanders, toads, and frogs, but to see them en masse and to see some that are not usually seen is quite a gift.

One of the first times I saw a Spring Peeper was on May 1st in 2020. I was lulled from our cozy abode by the peeper sirens. I went out into the night to a tiny pond with my flashlight. Here’s my journal entry:

The Wood Frogs stopped quacking as I approached, but the Peepers (most of them) kept peeping and it was loud - pleasant, but on the verge of overwhelming. I had on my rubber boots and stepped slowly and carefully - I didn’t want to step on anyone. I spent about 10 minutes searching for one Peeper who was close by me. I got up on a log and crouched down, and to my right at ear level, there he was - my Peeper in shining amor (get it?). He was clinging to a sapling and his throat was puffing in and out - he was the star of the show singing his aria in the spotlight of the flashlight. It was hard for me to stop watching, but I felt it would be disrespectful to keep him in the glare of the light for too long. I turned off the light and said thank you. I couldn’t stop smiling as I walked back to the house.

It wasn’t until April 17th and 24th of 2023 that I got to witness and take part in two Big Nights. My husband, mother-in-law, and I geared up with raincoats, flashlights, and a clipboard with a data sheet covered in plastic. We were in complete awe when we saw the details of each salamander, frog, and toad. To see a Spring Peeper next to a Spotted Salamander! The difference in size! How such a small peeper can be so loud!

Spotted Salamander / Ambystoma maculatum / credit: Jason Anthony

Maine is the only state to have an official statewide Big Night program. This is the brainchild of Greg LeClair and it has been hugely successful. This volunteer program is crucial to these amphibians’ survival. As they cross roads to get to breeding pools, many are killed each spring by vehicles. Getting involved is easy; anyone can sign up, get trained, and then help amphibians get across roads safely. Each site is monitored each spring, so it is educational and fun to compare the numbers and species through the years.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if other states could start similar programs?

Wood Frog in my hand (Lithobates sylvaticus) / credit: Jason Anthony

American Toad / Bufo americanus / credit: Jason Anthony

The chorus of the American Toad is, to me, the most mystical of all the calls. Haunting, beautiful, eerie, magical.

Enjoy the spring choirs and thank you for taking the time to listen.