Metamorphosis of the Tree Frog

It is the right time of year to observe something incredible: The metamorphosis of the California Tree Frog. To observe this phenomenon, you will have to find the right place. California Tree Frogs need just the right environment in which to lay their eggs. They like still pools of clear fresh water. A month ago, Santiago Creek was a gushing stream full of rain water. But now that the storms are over, puddles can be found along the bottom of the creek bed. In these shallow basins of fresh water, you can observe the metamorphosis or "changing shape" of the California Tree Frog.


When you approach the pool, remember that this special place is called a "riparian habitat." A riparian habitat is an ecosystem along a fresh water pond, a river, or a stream. Only certain plants and animals can survive here. One of these animals is the California Tree Frog.

Look at all the black things darting about in the water. Those are called tadpoles. You can think of a tadpole as a "baby" or immature form of a frog. They swim around and look like little fish. But they are not fish at all. These tadpoles will turn into frogs in a matter of days!!

The first change on a tadpole is the sprouting of legs! They begin as little buds. Then within as little as a few hours, they start to take shape. They become webbed hind feet and legs.

After this, the head becomes a bit pointier. And then arm buds start to emerge.

Again, within several hours, the buds grow out longer, and become arms and webbed fore feet!

The color changes from black to greenish brown with some spots. The tail does not fall off. It gets shorter and shorter and becomes part of the Tree Frog's rear end.

Soon, the tail disappears completely. Incredibly, the California Tree Frog hops out of the pond and finds a nice tree in which to live. It is tiny and very charming. It grows to only an inch or two.

Then, when the time is just right next season, the California Tree Frog will return to the ponds of Santiago Creek and lay its eggs in the water. The eggs will grow in the water. And then what do you think will POP out of the egg? Did you say, "A TADPOLE?!" Then you are RIGHT.

California Tree Frogs live all over Orange County. Check to see if there is a puddle in a nearby empty lot. Or maybe there's standing water in a low point in your neighborhood. If you're lucky, you might find some tadpoles at this time of year. But make sure you leave the tadpoles in the water. Let them grow into frogs because FROGS EAT MOSQUITOES AND FLIES! HOORAY!

Now we know about caterpillars that change into butterflies and tadpoles that change into frogs. Can you think of any other animals that go through MET-A-MORPH-O-SIS?

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TEAMWORK: Butterflies and Plants

Plants need animals. Brittlebush and Wild Buckwheat are "host plants" for this butterfly, the Mormon Metalmark. The plant offers food and shelter for the butterfly. The plant needs for the butterfly to sip the nectar from its flowers. When the butterfly sips nectar, little grains of pollen will fall from its legs and wings. The pollen drops into the flower, and pollinates it. Then the flower will turn into a seed or fruit. A new plant will grow from these seeds.

Animals need plants. This little butterfly, the Mormon Metalmark needs plants like Wild Buckwheat and Brittlebush. The butterfly drinks nectar from the flowers. The butterfly lays its eggs onto the leaves of the plant. The eggs hatch, and out come tiny caterpillars. The caterpillars need the plant because they eat the leaves and use the leaves for shelter.

After a while, they go through "metamorphosis." Met-a-morph-o-sis is a big word for when an animal changes into different forms. A butterfly lays eggs. Caterpillars come out of the eggs. The caterpillars make cocoons. In the cocoons, they change into butterflies. When the cocoons open, out fly the butterflies. Amazing!

What other animals go through MET-A-MORPH-O-SIS?

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The ROY-G-BIV of Spring

Sometimes artists call the colors of the rainbow "ROY-G-BIV." Do you know what ROY-G-BIV means? It is short for the colors of the rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. In the spring time, wildflowers can be found in all the colors of ROY-G-BIV. Wildflowers are plants in your area that do not require any care from humans. They are gifts from nature.

Look for wildflowers in sidewalk cracks, county parks, and empty lots around your neighborhood. Take a digital picture of these flowers. If you can't do that, draw them with a pencil. Write down the color of the flower. Then go to your school library and look up "Wildflowers of California." See if you can identify the wildflowers that you found.

But what is the purpose of these gorgeous flowers? These flowers are on plants to tell insects and birds, "Come pollinate me!" Once the flowers are pollinated, they will turn into seeds and fruits that have seeds inside. These seeds will be spread and new plants will grow from these seeds.

Take a look at these FREE works of art in all the colors of the rainbow...ROY-G-BIV!









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Red Tailed Hawk Nest

I saw a Red Tailed Hawk fly into its nest and join its mate. It seemed that the Red Tailed Hawk had brought food to chicks in the nest. The parents were busy tending to the center of the nest. Suddenly one of the hawks flew away to get more food. The remaining hawk kept tending to its young ones. After about five minutes, this hawk flew into the sky, too.

What are the hawks going to try to find for food? Hawks are carnivores, so they will catch small rodents, birds, and reptiles to eat. If they need to, they will eat fish, crayfish, and even insects. Because they are birds of prey, they are called raptors.

About 15 years ago, I lived in a house on a steep hill. In the back yard, there was a very tall Eucalyptus tree. The back yard went down at a very steep angle. Because of this, the top of the Eucalyptus tree was even with our back patio deck. Each spring, I could look straight out and watch Red Tailed Hawks returning to their large nest at the top of the Eucalyptus tree. Before long, I was able to spot two little fuzzy white hawk chicks in the nest. The parents would leave the nest and return with food for the chicks. The chicks would grow and grow. Time would pass, and then the chicks would leave to start their own families.

The Hawks in these pictures may look small, but they can grow to be about two feet high. How tall are you? Maybe around four feet? The wing span of a Red Tailed Hawk is as wide across as you are tall!

Red Tailed Hawks are not just found out in the country. They can be found in cities, too. I often see Red Tailed Hawks sitting on top of light poles next to freeways. So keep an eye out for these magnificent birds of prey!

Thank you to Ranger Raven Longbow of the Palm Springs Indian Canyons for inspiring me to begin writing again.

And thank you to my husband, Alan, for getting a telephoto lens for me as a a birthday present!

Did you find this useful? If so, you can send a "tip" to my PAYPAL.COM account. My email address is kathomatho@yahoo.com. I will donate 10% of your tip to The Orange County Zoo.