A trip back to the vernal pool this week revealed a dramatic change of scenery from just one week earlier.  Now that most of the ice has melted, the wood ducks have arrived and were captured gliding around by a motion activated camera.   The wood frogs are still "quacking" away but there were no eggs in sight.  By next weekend the pond will likely be loaded with egg sacks clinging to submerged branches in the shallow water.  

The wood frogs are not the only species dependent upon the vernal pool.  A walk to a nearby pool revealed a large spotted salamander busily depositing her eggs atop a mass of decaying oak leaves in just a few inches of water.  Another visit to this little pool a few days later revealed the salamanders unfortunate choice of location with ATV tracks running straight through the very spot where she was observed.   A reminder to all of the ATV enthusiasts out there - pools of water should be avoided, especially in the spring.  Many different species depend upon the vernal pool not only for reproduction but as a source of food.

Vernal Pools of Life