“No way!”
“Yes, way.”
Have you ever seen lumpy water? Look closely at the bottom of this picture. The straight lines are plant stems, but the rounded grape-like shapes are red-legged frog egg masses, tightly packed, fresh, clear and round.
On January 28th, the WHAS-sponsored citizen science amphibian egg-mass survey project kicked-off its third season. After 25 people participated in training at Lower Columbia College, seven volunteers surveyed Indian Jack Slough (IJS) near Cathlamet, finding 269 red-legged frog and 17 long-toed salamander egg masses. Russ and Ann Kastberg first surveyed IJS under the Clark County Citizen Science Amphibian Survey Project in 2008. Surveys focus on three pond areas this year. The “Red Barn” site, our baseline survey site, consists of an old creek channel and an open wetland. In addition, we are surveying two new areas the landowner, Columbia Land Trust, has restored and re-shaped into ponds. It was a successful and fun day, and a good start to a promising season!!
Fun with frogs, family and friends found in freshets, fens, ponds, puddles, swales and lots of water in 2010 as people paddled, puddle-jumped, waded and slogged through bogs. As early as January red-legged frog (RAAU) and long-toed salamander (AMMA) egg masses showed up in Jack’s Slough and Germany Creek. In February copious quantities of the long-toed salamander egg masses were found at the Mint Farm, northwestern salamander (AMGR) egg masses appeared in Germany Creek and near Rainier, and Margaret Green found on lone AMGR mass at the Mint Farm.
The Gray’s River toads took us on an emotional roller coaster ride. Excitement mounted
"Under Kastberg's enthusiastic oversight, dozens of volunteers have hopped to it during the county's first official amphibian survey. Adults and youth groups are wading through local ponds and wetlands, counting frogs, salamanders and the egg masses they lay this time of year." Read an article in The Daily News by Tom Paulu about our local amphibian egg mass survey efforts.
Surveying has been great. We've found long-toed eggs (AMMA) at the Mint Farm in Longview, and red-legged frog (RAAU) egg masses west of Longview up Spruce Creek, at Germany Creek and Nelson Creek and in a cow pasture in Kalama. Northwestern Salamanders are laying in Germany Creek and South Nemah. From Corkran and Thoms's Amphibians of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia: WINTER (Some periods of freezing weather; often December to mid February.) During periods of warm rain:
Early Spring (Frost some nights, some sun, some late snows; often late February and March) During periods of warm rain:
It looks like we may be in early spring. This sure describes what we're seeing out there in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. Looks like chorus frog eggs have been found in Clark County.
The first Frog Egg Mass Survey help files are online now. Just check the resource category in the Frog Egg Mass Survey Section. Have fun.
| Aug 14; WHAS Annual Picnic |
| Sep 10-11; Puget Sound Bird Fest |
| Sep 23-25; Wings over Willapa Festival |
| Oct 08; Board Meeting |
