Thursday, 10 April 2025

Curling and frogging

 🥌We had a busy week watching curling. It was very sad watching the blatant cheating by China's team. It was an important tournament, leading to the Olympics. 

The article 'blatant cheating' states that the Chinese denied the infraction. You can't touch a stone with your brush. There are no rules or anything they can enforce. 

China has done other things, kicked a stone in their game against Germany. Germany complained, but nothing could be done. 

Devin Heroux posted video of the incident on BlueSky. Replay video isn't allowed during the games. No one spotted it after Norway complained. There is little they can do. There was a conversation between China and Norway. Again, Norway complained, but the rule has no teeth.

🐸 Chorus Frog Surveys

We tried frogging, Monday, April 7th. It didn't go well! Too cold. Too early for this cool spring.

I programmed my sites onto the map. Then transferred it to my phone. 

You can see ice on the lake still. Not everywhere, but that dark streak is ice about to sink.





This is too open to the lake. 

There is no possible way there is enough water here.

This is a possibility. There is a vernal pond behind the dead tree.


May I complain about Google Maps? I loaded up my 10 assigned spots. Then Google kept interrupting me to evaluate my experience with it. argh


I don't think a beaver dam is suitable, either!




We'll try again on another day. This morning it is -5℃! 

A few important notes about weather conditions to optimize your chances of hearing the calls for Western Chorus Frogs:

  • Wait until the temperature reaches 10°C before conducting surveys
  • The wind speed should not exceed 20 km/hour during survey.
  • Please conduct surveys when there is no rain, or light rain only.

13 comments:

Kathy G said...

I am becoming less and less of a fan of Google Maps. Because I have an iPhone several people have referred me to the Apple native map app

tz_garden said...

Beautiful skies - *It is so frustrating to be working on anything and being asked questions!

Barbara Rogers said...

Terrible to hear of un-sportsmanship in those contests. Sorry the frogs are still hiding away from the cold.

RedPat said...

Too cold for frogs to venture out.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
At least you get to see the curling... here, in it's home nation, we have to go to one of the expensive pay streamers if we want to watch. Harrumph. Sorry to hear there's been so much naughtiness. YAM xx

DrumMajor said...

Don't let the curling stones hit the froggies! Linda in Kansas

Jeanie said...

I'm glad you're finally getting open water. Doesn't it feel like forever? The cheating is deplorable. I do wish they'd allow replay.

Anvilcloud said...

I imagine that Chinese athletes are under a lot of pressure, but their behaviour is not sporting, to sat the least.

Elephant's Child said...

Sigh at the cheating.
I hope you see and hear the frogs soon.

Red said...

Some of these things aren't fun to watch anymore when cheating goes on.

eileeninmd said...

Love all the landscape photos. It is a shame a team feels the need to cheat in a tournament. Take care, have a great day!

The Furry Gnome said...

We just need things to warm up a little!

Val Ewing said...

I loved reading the link about Frogging and being a Citizen Scientist. How fun and interesting.
As far as Google maps is concerned? I'm getting a bit uneasy with them. Last time I drove to town, the map wanted to give me directions to a country in Africa. Huh?
We do have peepers here singing in some of the backwater ponds of the river.