Sights and Sounds of The Great Swamp

The Great Swamp is a rich collection of colors and sounds that change with the seasons. From the snow of Winter, to the sounds of migratory birds in the Spring, to the rich colors of the Summer blooms, to the colors of Fall foilage, The Great Swamp is a wondrous place. Since much of The Swamp is not easily accessed, FrOGS brings you a virtual tour of The Swamp so that you can experience it and understand why it needs to be protected and preserved. This page is a collection of sound clips and movie clips that will highlight areas of interest in The Great Swamp.

A note about the audio and movie clips: These short clips are low resolution and compressed to minimize the file size and download time.

Northern Spring Peepers - The call of the Spring peepers is among the first signs of the Spring season and the warm weather to follow after a long and cold winter.

Barred Owl - Barred owls are common in The Great Swamp watershed and can be heard if you listen carefully.

The Ice Pond - A 180 degree pan of The Ice Pond as seen from the William Clough Preserve in Patterson. The wind was gusting as a lone Canadian goose swims in the pond.

East Branch Croton River - As you see the beautiful East Branch, you will hear that man is never far away from the Swamp. (310K)

The FrOGS Virtual Canoe Trip - The most popular annual FrOGS event is the Spring canoe trip through a portion of the Great Swamp in Putnam County. The trip is intended to raise awareness of The Swamp and to teach the importance of The Swamp, its Watershed, and the unique plant and animal ecosystems to be found there. But to most participants, the trip is simply a very pleasant and enjoyable two hours on a calm waterway. Many are surprised by the beauty and serenity of the area that is still so very close to man's development.

The short movie clip is from a past FrOGS canoe trip. The clip takes you into one of the canoes so that you can experience the Swamp as if you were on one of the canoe trips. You will hear the paddles splashing in the water and clanking against the aluminum canoe. You will hear the paddlers coordinating their strokes, the sounds of the birds in the trees, and even a distant lawn mower to remind us that despite appearances, development is never far away. Among the sites to see is a beaver lodge.