These are the first amphibians to emerge from hibernation here in Northern New Jersey. You know they have arrived when you here the distinctive noise when you walk past a swampy pond. You can hear the high pitched whistle from a mile away, but when you get within feet the sound stops completely. Just be patient. When they think you have walked away, out come their faces and the racket starts again. the surface of a still pond starts to show bubbles and rings almost like the pond starts to simmer. We love to sneak up on these little creatures and observe their movements. If you can catch an image of their backs you can see a distinctive cross mark on their backs.