How to Call a Frog

One evening last week in Matsudai, we heard the most delightful chorus of frogs – deep croaking, quick peeps, and a percussive almost wooden clapping. But as we approached the little garden pond for a closer look and listen, the frogs stopped their songs.
Kimie-san started talking to them. She called; they answered. We giggled. She called again and soon they were all chatting away. I was delighted. Her technique was simple.
She made a loud, hollow sound by closing her lips with air in her cheeks and in between her lips and teeth, then opening them quickly while sucking the air in. The resulting sound was a hollow, lip smacking pop. She repeated it a few times and the frogs talked back.
On another night, I went to the pond alone and tried it with the recorder running. It worked! Have a listen:
Frog Call 0’04” 72KB MP3

Recent Posts
Mediatinker by MAIL

Join 24 other subscribers
SEARCH
Longer Ago

Mediatinker, Kristen McQuillin, is an American-born resident of Japan since 1998. This blog chronicles her life, projects, thoughts, and small adventures.