Leaves are leaving
This is a picture of the Chadakoin River before all of yesterday’s formidable gusts blew away much of our fall foliage here in Jamestown. Yep, the leaves are leaving. What makes me shake my head is how low the water level has been lately as our precipitation has fallen back to near average or below after a very wet summer. We sure could have used these conditions for Spiny Softshell Turtle work the rest of the year when they were more active, nesting and basking in strong numbers. The weather shapes all of the life around us in both positive and negative ways. This is also why active...
Read MoreMale Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtles
Here’s some of the boys – male Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtles (Apalone spinifera) – hanging out and basking Saturday afternoon before we were inundated with more rain. All of this constant precipitation is keeping water levels high making it harder to find them and impossible for us to do any trapping or tagging for research on the state-listed species. Our continuing observations and tracking will have to suffice.
Read MoreMale Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtles (Apalone spinifera)
We’re still keeping an eye on and searching for more Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtles (Apalone spinifera) in Jamestown and throughout the region. Recently we recorded 9 males together…can you find them all in this photo?
Read MoreChalk-fronted Corporal (Ladona julia)
The Chalk-fronted Corporal (Ladona julia) has an appropriate name! This male paused only briefly while nearby females were already ovipositing.
Read MoreSpiny Softshell Turtles (Apalone spinifera) basking
Quickly checked on the Spiny Softshell Turtles (Apalone spinifera) earlier and saw six enjoying the hot sunny day.
Read More
