Vernal Pool Season is Right Around the Corner

The best vantage point when assessing a vernal pool is to carefully wade through it.

Wood Frog egg mass are often found in the vernal pools where the sunlight reaches through the forest canopy.

Blue-spotted X Jefferson hybrid Salamanders use vernal pools for breeding habitat.

I was interviewed by John Torsiello TownVibe Litchfield.  You can read his article here. 

As the snow melts and spring rains blow in, the vernal pools fill with water.  Many wildlife species migrate through the forest in search of mates and safe places to lay their eggs.  Vernal pools provide a predator-free site that lets juveniles to fully develop before the pool dries. 

Vernal Pool Monitors Annual Workshop

Vernal Pool Workshop will be held on Saturday 6 April, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the A. B. Ceder Classroom.  Bring a lunch, water, and either shoes that you can get wet or knee-high rubber boots.  Dress for the weather!

Blue-spotted x Jefferson Salamander Hybrid is one species that we monitor when visiting vernal pools.

Once again, our Vernal Pool monitors will be gathering to learn about the plants and animals that inhabit vernal pools.  Vernal Pools are ephemeral water bodies that fill with water in the spring and serve as predator-free habitats that several important species use for breeding.  White Memorial has at least 120 vernal pools on the property, all of which must be visited at least twice per season.  The collected data includes egg mass identification and counts, as well as identification of all the species that you find living in a vernal pool.  We need your help, so join in on the fun this season.

Vernal Pool Volunteer Monitoring Workshop

Blue-spotted x Jefferson Salamander is frequently observed breeding in White Memorial's vernal pools.

A total of 9 volunteers attended the Vernal Pool Monitoring workshop on Saturday, March 31, 2012.  We explored a nearby pool to observe the life found inhabiting it.  Amphipods, Isopods, and Fingernail Clams were quite abundant.  A few Spotted Salamander egg masses were also observed.  This work is important because several of these species are obligate most, if not all, of their breeding activity in vernal pools.  The long-term conservation of these species depends on the conservation of this habitat.  These habitats are difficult to classify because they can be ephemeral and isolated far away from other habitats used by these species.

Vernal Pool Monitoring Workshop

Wood Frog
Photo by Donna Potwin

I am pleased to announce that the wood frogs are clucking!  Therefore, we need to schedule our Vernal Pool Monitoring Workshop.  The workshop will be Saturday, March 31, 2012 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Mott-Van Winkle Classroom.  Come dressed for the weather and for walking in the water.  Bring your field guides, nets, and smiles!  See you then!

Spotted Salamander moving on Groundhog Day?!

This Spotted Salamander was observed on February 2, 2012 near
No Mans Land Swamp on Stoddard Rd. (a.k.a. Morris Hill Rd.), Morris, CT
by David and Gabby Peters.  An early date for observing these guys, indeed!

Geez it's warm outside!  Our winter has been a mild one so far with little snow and mild winter temperatures.  It looks more like the land of eternal spring rather than the winter of discontent!  Our first harbinger of spring was a Spotted Salamander observed by one of White Memorial's neighbors on February 2, 2012.  Rather early for these guys, but so far it is the only report. We are not observing anything that suggests migratory movements back to their breeding habitats, yet.  This guy suggests that we probably need to finish our Winter Track Monitoring and getting ready for the Vernal Pool Monitoring program.  Stay tuned for further details about the next training date!