The ponds of spring and early summer are alive with insects, amphibians and reptiles. Here are a few from yesterday’s pond survey. The California red-legged frog is listed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and is classified as Threatened. http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=D02D Each pond has tadpoles, sometimes just tree frog and other times tadpoles of red-legged [...]
Archive for the ‘amphibians’ Category
Springtime Ponds
Posted in Endangered species, wildlife management, wildlife, amphibians, California Tiger Salamander, California red-legged frog, California newt, insects, Threatened species, tagged California tiger salamander larvae, California red-legged frog on May 25, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Spring in the Altamont
Posted in amphibians, bird watching, birds of prey, burrowing owl, Endangered species, outdoors, raptors, snakes, special status species, wildlife management, tagged Burrowing Owl, California tiger salamander larvae, King Snake, Pacific Tree Frog Tadpole, Seine Netting, Swainson's Hawk on April 20, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Joe spotted a couple Swainson’s hawks gliding high overhead. Red-tails were hanging around a stand of eucalyptus trees and a ferruginous hawk was spotted on the horizon. Joe also found a young king snake under a board. We took quite a few photos of the willing snake. Burrowing owls were in their usual [...]
Night Search for Salamanders
Posted in amphibians, California red-legged frog, California Tiger Salamander, Endangered species, wildlife, tagged Amplexus, California red-legged frog on February 23, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Searched for California tiger salamanders in the middle of the night last weekend. Took my daughter Betsy along for company. Her question, “Does it make you nervous walking around in the dark at night?” My answer, “No, except when I don’t know where I am.” Darkness is a fun adventure when you’re in you [...]
A Walk Around a Revived Pond
Posted in amphibians, California newt, California red-legged frog, California Tiger Salamander, Endangered species, wildlife, tagged California newt larvae, California red-legged frog juvenile, California tiger salamander larvae on August 17, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Two summers ago we repaired the dam on one of our best ponds. It was also filled with bass and bluegill, something that gave use pleasure on many occasions. However, as we prepared to make this parcel ready for a conservation easement for endangered species, we were required to remove the fish. We pumped the [...]
California Tiger Salamander Larvae
Posted in amphibians, California Tiger Salamander, Endangered species, wildlife, tagged California tiger salamander larvae on June 4, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Last weekend we checked out one of our ponds in search of California Tiger Salamander (CTS) larvae. The pond has all the qualities we look for in a CTS pond. One key is that it’s on a south-facing slope that gets lots of sun, warming the water generating lots of CTS prey. Tadpoles are in [...]
Ranch Ponds in Spring
Posted in amphibians, Endangered species, reptiles, snakes, wildlife, tagged California newt, California red-legged frog egg mass, California tiger salamander larvae, garder snake on May 9, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
During March, April and May, the ranch ponds come alive. The early breeders are tiger salamanders, tree frogs and newts. Shortly thereafter come the red-legged frogs. Although you seldom see the adults in winter, their eggs appear each March. As early as December, the tiger salamanders lay their individual eggs on grass stems and small [...]
