Crazy Amphibian Time!
It is one of the first days of spring, and the day in warm for March. 70 degrees. A day for herping! I decided to go for a short walk in the woods to visit the vernal pools and creek. Spring peepers and Wood frogs were singing loudly! All the preeps and croaks are a signal to females that the male frogs are hoping to breed. Among the chorus, there were plenty of territorial calls and release calls. Frogs weren't the only amphibians about. Spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) have been breeding for several days now, and there are several adults hiding beneath logs. Along the creeks edge, I find several Northern two-lined salamanders and some Northern dusky salamanders also. They are very fast! There were also plenty of terrestrial salamanders (Northern Red backed salamanders) hiding under rocks and logs, too. Garter snakes were even basking in the sun. I found hundreds of Seed shrimp (Ostracods) and water Daphnia aka Water fleas, although they are not fleas at all, but crustaceans. I think you will like this video!