Spring Peeping

When I told my husband about this opportunity his comment was that this is no longer "fieldlearning" but "Extreme Fieldlearning!" What do you think? I get a phone call from a friend who just heard that tonight is the night that the amphibians need help crossing the road so they can make it to their mating pool (a vernal pool). Is it extreme to drive half an hour in the rain, at night, bundled up, with flashlights in hand just to see some amphibians crossing the road? I should note that he also had several other funny comments like, "So you are going to toad road?" and "Don't get in a wrecko with a gecko" and "What are you going to call this post? Frog blog?"

The kids were very excited. After traveling up and down the forested roads near Hopewell Furnace we finally arrived at our destination. As soon as we opened the doors we knew we were in the right place - the noise of those peepers in the pool! For quite awhile that kept us all alert, and not too much later we got to see our first spotted salamander. They weren't coming in droves tonight, as we are told they often do, but later on there was a bucket with 5 spotted salamanders and we also saw a Jefferson salamander (more rare) and even a wee spring peeper. The girls wanted to take that one home - it was very cute. The adult volunteers who were helping the amphibians get across the road quickly allowed the children to take the buckets and release them into the pool. Everyone had a turn and so had their role to play.

Here's a very short clip or the peeper in the pool. (Remember it is at night, but the flashlight is shining right on him.)



Many nature centers give salamander walks around this time of year, give yours a call to learn more about species local to you. Or maybe you have a vernal pool near your house and your local amphibians are crossing roads without a guard. Read about vernal pools, amphibians and their spring migration and how to help with these links:

http://www.fish.state.pa.us/amp_rep.htm
http://www.paconserve.org/rc/sp/amphibians/field-amphib_2.html
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/anglerboater/play/2003/spring_index.htm

And one last post about the geese

A beautiful day at Middlecreek - a taste of summer! Many more geese than last week.
Take a peek - :

180,000 Snow Geese

The numbers are up to 180,000 snow geese at Middlecreek as of Monday:

This is apparently the largest number of snow geese ever observed at Middle Creek. Conversely, Canada goose and tundra swan numbers remain relatively low. There are reports of geese and swans already to the north of us, we don't know how long these birds might linger here.
~Jim Binder
Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Manager

We have plans to go again, tomorrow, Wednesday, with some friends. My van will be full, but if anyone (Kim and Erin I'm specifically thinking of you, but anyone is welcome) would like to caravan out there, send me an email asap - we'll be leaving around 12 noon. It takes about an hour. Plans will change if it is pouring down raining or if the numbers drop dramatically.

The Geese and Swans

It's the beginning of March, which means it is time for the Snow Geese migration through nearby Middlecreek Game Lands. It has become a tradition for our family to take a gander (oh, yes, that pun is intended) at the geese and swans that stopover on their journey to the arctic. We went yesterday and it was freezing cold, actually quite below freezing with the wind chill. There weren't as many geese as some years, but there were plenty and we got a good look at quite a few tundra swans. Middlecreek also has a small museum with some stuffed wildlife, a small learning station or two and a big window with good binoculars and field guides. We spent almost a half of an hour watching the birds at the feeders and watching the geese in the distance. At the feeders we spotted a red-bellied woodpecker - that was a real treat!

And in other bird news, the falcons are back on the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg. Check out the webcam, egg-laying should begin later this month.

My video of the snow geese looks far better on my computer than it does from youtube, but it'll still give you an idea of the spectacle. Below that is another video (with sound) from someone in Canada.

Inspired

Here is a picture of Julius' art inspired by Andy Goldsworthy. It does however serve a utilitarian purpose in that it houses snowballs. Did I mention he is a nine-year-old boy?

Sticks and Stones

We were at a friend's on Sunday night. She had wanted to show the DVD Rivers and Tides to Julius to show him what he could do with all the sticks he goes hunting for. As it turned out we all really enjoyed the DVD. Environmental artist, Andy Goldsworthy from Scotland uses sticks, stones, leaves, water, ice, flower petals and other natural things to make beautiful transient art. It was really inspiring and amazing.


I found this lesson plan from Australia if you'd like to take your children on an environmental art excursion.

I'm really interested in what people think. I thought it was just amazing and so accessible. Have you heard of him before? Do a google search for Andy Goldsworthy in videos or images to see more.