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Community Corner

"Why Did the Salamander Cross the Road?" With DEC's Laura Heady

Each spring, frogs and salamanders travel significant distances from their forest habitats to breed in woodland pools. Unfortunately, migration pathways often cross roads and long driveways, leading to a high mortality of the slow-moving amphibians, even in low-traffic areas.

Last year the "Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings" project started as a genuine citizen science effort initially to document the migration routes, but eventually to attempt to divert the amphibians from high-risk areas. Over 30 volunteers documented almost 40 crossing locations in 14 towns in 6 counties, including nine salamander species and seven frog and toad species. In total, 1,143 live and 566 dead individuals were counted.

This year, the group is again seeking help from the public. By documenting migrations and road crossings, volunteers can contribute to the conservation of woodland pool breeding amphibians in the Hudson River Estuary watershed. After the presentation, which will start at 7 p.m., you can join Laura and BAS naturalist Tait Johansson outside to listen for spring peepers and other amphibians in Bylane's ponds. Please visit the DEC's website for information on amphibian spring migrations, or to download a fact sheet, data form, or new photo identification guide. http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/51925.html  As a practical follow-up on the lecture, Bedford Audubon member Paul Lewis will lead a walk in Mountain Lakes Park on Saturday, March 27 to look for salamanders and other amphibians that have successfully made it to their breeding grounds in the park's vernal pools. For information on this and other Bedford Audubon late winter and spring programs, visit http://www.bedfordaudubon.org/events.html. Please make your reservation for this limited attendance program by calling Jim Nordgren at (914) 232-1999 or email Jim at jnordgren@bedfordaudubon.org

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