While I was still sipping that first cup of coffee, the frogs serenading me were starting that slow decline in their activity. Not long after sunrise, they would quit for the day and seek shelter in the cooling shade. There, they would hide from the world for the day only to start their "business" come nightfall. Most frogs prefer to be nocturnal simply because their skin dries so quickly. The nights are cooler and more moisture is in the air. It is then that my froggy friends will be busy patrolling the gardens for those pesky bugs!
It was just after the sun started peeping over the pines that I found one large bullfrog still on "night duty". He was slowly making his way back to the Frog Pond after getting his belly full of bugs. Since there was not much else to do, I decided to watch the bullfrog for a few moments. He seemed to be boss of the frogs in the pond. I noticed how the much smaller tree frogs made sure to stay far from the bullfrog as they would have become prey for this voracious feeder. Contrary to popular belief, frogs do not eat just insects. Large bullfrogs will eat anything they can overpower. The frogs are vicious predators that will swallow, not only insects, but lizards, smaller frogs, small snakes and even hummingbirds, if they get too close.
Mr. Frog made his way back into the dark waters of the Frog Pond just as the sun started shooting beams through the garden. His duties were over for the day. Time for rest. He just had to find a safe place for a nap or, he too, would be prey to some larger creature. So goes life on the Bayou.
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