If you venture out into the preserves these days, there's a good chance you'll hear chorus frogs belting out some tunes as they call for a mate.

Chorus frogs are some of the first frogs to emerge in our area each year and help bring the preserves alive with those familiar sounds of spring. These tiny frogs, measuring only about 1 inch in length, are heard a lot more often then they are seen, however.

From a distance, their call can be confused for that of crickets, but there are no crickets calling at this time of year. Instead, the frogs are in the process of courtship and mating, and that includes their familiar song. 

Even when you get close to the pond or waterway where they are, spotting them can be extremely difficult both due to their size and their built-in camouflage. For example, there are nine chorus frogs tucked away in this photo:

If you want to spot chorus frogs next time you hear them calling, take your time and scan the water. It helps to have a pair of binoculars so you can get a good look. If they're calling, you should be able to spot the movement of their expanding throats.

While they are quite vocal when looking for a mate, the actual mating process isn't very theatrical. Once the male and female pair up, it's a bit of a drawn-out undertaking. The male will hang onto the female, sometimes for a day or more, fertilizing the eggs as she deposits them.