Vernal Pools Poking Through
Last weekend as we were out surveying for HWA in Dobbin’s Woods, a beautiful Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy property, we came across several little pools beginning to form in the depressions of the landscape as the snow increasingly melts back. While these pools aren’t too attractive for us to throw our beach chair next to, they are extremely important to a number of amphibian species. In the upcoming weeks these small pools will serve as little nurseries for salamander and frog offspring to safely develop from egg-y masses to free swimming larvae to land conquering tetrapods....
Read MoreAmerican Kestrel Female
This female American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) perched on the wire just long enough for me to take a shot while we looked each other in the eye. She is a March migrant, one of many raptors on the move to the north every day now. She will be hunting slowly melting grasslands and fields under the soon to be spring sun. Do you have any American Kestrel nest boxes erected on your large open property or farm? Now is the time to get them up or cleaned. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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