{"id":1705,"date":"2012-04-09T16:23:06","date_gmt":"2012-04-09T20:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/glenprovidencepark.org\/?p=1705"},"modified":"2012-10-23T20:08:24","modified_gmt":"2012-10-24T00:08:24","slug":"march-photojournal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glenprovidencepark.org\/2012\/04\/09\/march-photojournal\/","title":{"rendered":"March Photojournal"},"content":{"rendered":"

What a fun month to watch wildlife at the pond in Glen Providence Park!<\/strong>\u00a0 The unseasonably warm weather continued with the temperature reaching the 80’s some days,\u00a0and the warmth really brought the pond to life, including these American Toads!<\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0By mid-March, the reptiles and amphibians emerged, along with blossoming trees and ephemeral flowers; and birds started to arrive on their Spring migration.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On our St. Patrick’s Day Spring Ephemerals Walk<\/a>, we were lucky to find mating Pickerel Frogs<\/strong>– the only frog species in this region that call underwater. We have a hydrophone on loan from Dr. Mac Given<\/strong>, and we did hear something making noise underwater, but it was the low croaking call<\/a><\/strong> above water that led us to find the pair.<\/p>\n

Just a few days later, and right on cue on the first day of Spring(!), dozens of American Toads started a three day serenade at the pond<\/strong>.\u00a0 It was so loud, it could be mistaken for a car alarm!\u00a0 You can hear their call, and those of other frogs and toads, at the\u00a0Frog & Toad Calls of Pennsylvania<\/a>\u00a0website.<\/p>\n

The comical toads were truly a sight to be seen, and by the end of the third day, the edges of the pond were filled with curly strings of eggs!<\/strong> You can read about their life cycle a this Toad Life Cycle website<\/a>…\u00a0\u00a0there should be miniature toads hopping around by May 20.<\/strong>\u00a0 Even their awkward swimming technique was entertaining to watch, and surprisingly effective.<\/p>\n

Of course the turtles also came out, including the Red-eared Sliders<\/strong> and Common Snapping Turtles<\/strong>.\u00a0 Even the snakes<\/strong> emerged- everything seems to be coming out of hibernation!<\/p>\n

Other harbingers of Spring were the Eastern Phoebes:<\/strong> sweet little birds that arrived in the park and settled in around the pond.\u00a0 Look for their tail bobbing and listen for their song, which sounds like “phoe-be”<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Demonstrating the remarkable timing of Mother Nature, we encountered both our first mosquito and our first bat of the season on the same day…\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Happy Spring!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/em>Click on any photo below for a closer look.\u00a0 You can view more photos in our Facebook Albums: including\u00a0Wildlife<\/a>,\u00a0Scenery<\/a>, and\u00a0History<\/a>.<\/em>\u00a0 And Fig Media<\/a> posted beautiful photographs from their spring hike in Glen Providence Park<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t