When we collected our first group of Darwin's Frogs from the field, we used a cooler to keep the frogs at an appropriate temperature during the trip back to Santiago.

This is the male Darwin's Frog that is holding developing young in his vocal sac.

This is the the female that we believe bred with our male. Her job is now done. Female frogs deposit eggs and the male frogs take over from there. Males attend the developing eggs before taking their young into their mouths and on into their vocal sac.

To draw people to the breeding facility at the National Zoo, we had the famous Chilean artist Bernardo Oryan build a large Darwin's Frog. The statue will be placed immediately next to the breeding facility.

Bernardo and Marcela show off the new Rhinoderma statue.

One of the safety features we decided to add to the laboratory was a self starting generator. This addition prevents the facility from overheating should the power go out on a hot Santiago afternoon. We would like to thank the Shared Earth Foundation for supporting this critically important addition to our captive breeding facility!

As another safety precaution, we purchased a 1,500L (~395 US Gallons) water reservoir. The reservoir sits on the hill above the breeding facility so that even if water is cut off to the zoo, several days worth of water can be gravity fed to the facility and the frogs can be properly maintained through the disruption of services.

Often times, four wheel drive vehicles are required to get us to field localities.

Sometimes we have had to use horses to get to remote sites.

We have had to use mules to carry our gear into remote localities for longer camping trips.

Camping has allowed us to remain at remote sites for extended periods of time.

A makeshift lantern illuminates our supplies to make breakfast before dawn.

Andy is great in the field but he needs his coffee in the mornings. In the absence of coffee filters, Andy gets desperate and uses a sock. I hope it was a clean one.

Andy and Dante pose in the field for a quick shot after a great day of looking for Darwin's Frogs.

The humid temperate forests of South Chile hold amazing biodiversity.

We have been fortunate to enjoy many vines (Asteranthera ovata) in flower.

The streams we come across are beautiful.

Lush vegitation often grows right to the water's edge.

Every now and again we come across some of the aquatic inhabitants of these streams. This is a freshwater crab (Aegla sp.).

It seems like we are always working in the shadows of volcanoes.

The picturesque beauty of Chile is really unparalleled.

Andy leaves no stone unturned.

The amphibians that we have encountered have been great. This tree frog (Batrachyla antantartica) was encountered calling at night.

Great colors to Chile's Rosy Frog (Eupsophus rosae).

Alsodes igneus has a great pattern.

I had hoped that we would come across some of Chile's "False Toads" (this is Telmatobufo venustus).

Logging has been present in Chile for a long time. This is an old water powered saw mill.

Deforestation in Chile has taken its toll on local amphibians.

Much of Chile's southern temperate forests have been converted to monoculture plantations of exotic trees. These plantations have little value to native amphibians.

Logging trucks are all too common a sight in South Chile.

Darwin's Frogs with a combination of browns and tans in their pattern are the most common encounters.

We have come across a number of green individuals but infrequently see a combinations of greens like this individual demonstrates.

Our experiences have been that one shade of green in individual Darwin's Frogs, like this individual, is more common than frogs with two shades of green.

The length of the nose appendage differs between individuals. The reasons for the nose appendage discrepancy may be from loss of parts of the appendage in some individuals or simply via natural variation.

The profile of Darwin's Frogs is truly unique.

Sometimes individuals are found without their nose appendage in tact.

The fleshy appendages on the "heels" of Darwin's Frogs are called calcars.

Many Darwin's Frogs have several colors present in their pattern.

The lower abdomen and undersides of the legs are often colored black and white.

It is not impossible to come across very young Darwin's Frogs in the field. This is an example of a newly "coughed up" baby frog sitting on a finger tip.

some adjustments here and there and...

the completed racks are ready for final positioning

VOILA! Ladies and gentlemen, the Darwin's Frog Breeding Center is ready for business!!

The Chileans did a great job with the building design.

The moss, the coconut condos, the misters...all practically begging for frogs.

Bill, Marcela, Dante, and Andy enjoy the moment.

And the public likes it. Hey! We don't seem to need frogs! This works!

Incomparable Chilean hospitality, like her incomparable wines, make for a wonderful send-off!

Some, however, are more cooperative than others.

At last! A frog condominium!

Talented zoo staff welded a stand for the mister pump and bucket.

Jaime wonders whether Andy will paint the stand or the sidewalk.

He painted a little of each, as it turned out.

Finally the misting pump and barrel plus stand are ready.

Seeing perfect sprays of mist in each terrarium put smiles on our faces.

We collected collembola and got our cultures started in the insect room.

Happily, Chilean moss is the best in the world for frog terraria.

At last, things are coming together!

We got the feeling the peacock was interested in using our moss for a nest.

Now, to set up the foggers.

and they work perfectly!!

Time to tidy up and take some pics!

Bill Lamar and I are happy to see everything nearing final form.

The kaleidoscope of colors and aromas whetted our appetites.

And the fresh produce was a sight to behold!

Too bad frogs can't arrange their eggs nicely in pyramids like these!

The outstanding restaurants inside the market proved too delicious to resist so we took an unforgettable lunch break.

Hmmm. Wonder if these might be good for amphibian transport?

Our return to the zoo took us past the aviary with huge raptorial birds like this Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus).

Next came custom fitted "egg crating," in actuality diffusers for fluorescent lights.

We were excited to find an excellent plastic mesh in Santiago. It proved to be far superior to what we had used in the US. In fact, we brought samples home so we can hunt for it.

Not only was it easy to cut, but also....

it was stiff enough to lay flat.

We worked carefully to make an excellent fit so no stray frogs could find their way beneath the bottoms.

For bird lovers, seeing the endemic Slender-billed Conure (Enicognathus leptorhynchus) was a treat.

As was the spectacular Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus).

Miles and miles of pipe and tubing!

Try to remember: the drains go in the lowest part of the floor!

Getting late. Time to stop and tidy up a bit.

Can't even see what we've done.

The zoo staff pitched in and helped us haul out all the trash.

Our neighbors to the North, a pair of Green-winged Macaws (Ara chloroptera), were fascinated by all the activity.

Bernardo (middle), who will sculpt a ginat Darwin's Frog for the exhibit, comes to see what is happening.

Everyone, it seems, has an eye on the new facility!

Andy makes the supreme sacrifice and helps get rid of the coconut milk...delicious!

How to cut these things? Nope, a table saw won't work.

That's better!

Next, it's time to put in doors.

Cut, drilled, and ready to dry in the sun so the coconut meat can be popped out easily, then on to the terrariums.

All the cutting and drilling drew the attention of a lizard (Liolaemus tenuis) living by the woodshop.

The trek to the woodshop took us past some interesting zoo inhabitants like this Degu (Octodon degu).

And the noise even woke up a nocturnal Chinchilla.

Time to wire and install the fluorescent lights.

This is when tight quarters require SMALL hands!

Finally the lights are done!

Even the Blue-and-yellow Macaw likes the look of things.

If only we had more access to the internet......