4th Vernal Pool Certification!

A fourth vernal pool was recently certified in Spring Pond Woods!  This little pond with connecting wetlands and buffer areas is now regulated by many state and local laws as an important wildlife habitat.   

Last year, two vernal pools became certified, and back in 1997 the first vernal pond in Spring Pond Woods was acknowledged for certification.

Thank you to those who visited this area continuously over several nights/ days into months, gathering research.   Much love and peace on...

Vernal Pool Certification!!

Two (2!) vernal pool reports which were submitted last year for Spring Pond Woods, have recently become certified!  These two little ponds with connecting wetlands and buffer areas are now recognized by law as important wildlife habitats.   

Thank you to Leslie Courtemanche, who together visited the ponds over several nights/ days into months.  This is now Leslie's 3rd vp certification in Spring Pond Woods!  Another deserving thank you goes to Calvin Anderson who trekked along a couple times and helped discover the right kind of bugs.  Thank you to volunteers from a vernal pond group (Rick with Annette, Randall, and Rosemary) for visiting the pools during one of the days, and a professor from a state college who visited the pools before Spring to offer insight of vegetation, and to a sweet woman who came once out in the dark after surgery but could not continue the climb through the woods to reach the 2nd pool.  Thank you to a group of Salemites who offered encouraging support.  And thanks to a special expert for simply caring…you know who are.  Did I miss anyone?  A big thank You to family and friends for putting up with us (well me anyhow :), over the long course of the challenging couple years to protect these areas.  Much love and peace on...

More wetland and meadow discoveries

Recent photos shared by Leslie Courtemanche.  

Small amphibian

 Two unidentified dragonflies courting

White Swamp Azalea

unidentified Butterfly

Flower

Log Cabin Caddisfly

The caddisfly larvae create a 'log-cabin' protective casing, using wood material.  They are important to vernal pools because they shred large leaves into smaller pieces which become usable by other species.  Their casings can be used to prove a dry wetland is a vernal pool.  It is amazing to see this insect's architectural abilities, in small scale.  

Potential Vernal Pool study, Part III

Finally, we found a couple Spring Peepers.  These little amphibians, make the loudest noise, and are challenging to find in the dark with flashlights.  Leslie and I also found a few salamanders and other amphibians swimming in the water.

Potential Vernal Pool study, Part II

On Thursday, April 7th, the following species were observed in a potential vernal pool.  Different species are heard in the background.

At first sight, we could not understand why a 'stick' was moving in the water.  The 'stick' is formed from turned leaves.  Upon further observation, a larvae fell from the open tube.



Other species found in the same potential vernal pool...


Sounds of amphibians...