Living The Wildlife

Frogs, Newts & Toads (3x5)

Air date: Jun 01, 2010

Ireland is home to three species of amphibians. Everybody knows about frogs and newts, but the Natterjack Toad is the focus of a pond-digging project in Castlegregory in Kerry. Every April, hundreds of Natterjack Toads congregate on the sand dunes to mate. The male makes a unique call to attract the female and the result is an amazing cacophony of sound as hundreds of males compete for mates. Colin has borrowed some equipment and assistants from the Film and Television Training Centre in Tralee, Co. Kerry to film this behaviour. Colin also meets Dr. Ferdia Marnell who is the leading expert on amphibians in Ireland. Dr. Marnell works for the National Parks and Wildlife Service and is responsible for ‘The Toad In The Hole’ project in Kerry. He also loves newts and when Colin travels to meet him in Dublin, Dr. Marnell takes Colin to his neighbour’s garden to find some.