Have you ever wondered how frogs survive the winter, or how turtles can
breathe under water?
The answers are hidden in WETLANDS!!
If you have been exploring around
the biosphere, you’ve come across wetlands. These beautiful areas have a high biodiversity. This means they are home
to many different species of plants, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and
mammals!
www.ducks.ca/places/ontario/
Believe it or not, wetlands are
filled with life all year round! Let’s check it out.
SPRING
At the start of spring, plants wake
up from winter and you’ll see buds on trees and shrubs as they begin to grow
leaves. Many bird species in the biosphere come back from the warm countries where
they spend the winter. Birds such as the great blue heron and the ruby throated
hummingbird return to the biosphere for the summer. Spring is a great time to
see beautiful flowers, wildlife – and blackflies! Blackflies and mosquitoes
might seem like a pest, but they are an important food source for many hungry
animals in the spring.
SUMMER
During the summer, wetlands are a
great place to explore! Keep your eyes peeled for rocks and logs in the water,
these are great spots for observing frogs and turtles. If you’re lucky, you
might get to see a water snake or two. Don’t forget to listen; you may be able
to hear different bird calls and frog noises! One frog to listen for is the spring
peeper. Just like their name says, they make a “peep peep” sound.
!!!Summer Challenge!!!
The Toronto Zoo Frog Guide in
your Activity Kits show the different species of frogs in the biosphere and
their noises. See how many different frogs you can see and hear this summer.
Fall
When
the leaves begin to change and so do our wetlands! The birds begin to travel
south again, and animals get ready for a long winter hibernation. But
some animals stay awake all winter long - like the beaver! In the fall they
finish building dams and lodges. The lodges are made from branches and mud near
the shores of wetlands. Beavers have a waterproof coat of fur to keep them warm
in the water and cold weather. Next time you’re in the wetlands look for signs
of beavers, like chewed down trees and dams!
In the winter, most frog species
survive by burrowing down into the land around the wetlands and going into hibernation. Their bodies almost
completely shut down for several months – they don’t eat, they hardly breathe,
and their heartbeat slows down almost completely. Some frog species like the wood frog freeze in the winter
and defrost in the spring!! Turtles swim to the bottom of the pond and
hibernate in the top of the mud. But, how do they breathe? Turtles get oxygen
by absorbing it through their skin, or through their cloaca – located in their
bum!
Check out the Pond Life activity
book in your kit; there are plenty activities for your next wetland adventure!
Three cheers for hoppy frogs in
pristine bogs!
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