5/08/2007 Dale M's Observation Report
I spent 2.5-hours in the Block 6 section of PV Park today. This is the first
time I've gone beyond the Block 5/6 boundary. What an outstanding
community resource. I was completely alone for the entire 2.5-hours and thoroughly enjoyed the symphony of nature's sounds. My bird species list follows:

Red-tailed Hawk - Agitated Behavior, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Mourning Dove - carrying fecal sac, White-eyed Vireo - carrying nesting material, Red-eyed Vireo - pair, Willow Flycatcher, Blue Jay, Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Bluebird - pair, Wood Thrush, Robin, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Starling, Blue-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Ovenbird, Kentucky Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler - pair/territorial, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow - territorial, Song Sparrow, Cardinal, White-crowned Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak - pair, Indigo Bunting - pair/territorial, Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, Goldfinch, Brewster's Warbler - this bird was approximately 20-feet away and allowed enough time to check off every field mark evident in the Peterson guide.

As you can see many/most of the birds fall into the X or O category,
but some seem to be fully embracing the breeding season. And, some are
just passing through.

Tom, Janet, I'm guessing you have already recorded many of the above
species, for any that would be new to the block I can provide
coordinates.

Regards,
Dale

3/28/2007 Debbie Bryant's Ovservation of Spotted Salamanders
Hi, Dick, (Email to Dick Byers)

This morning has slipped away from me & I have to go get ready for work, but...

If you get to PV park today, here is where to look:

For the egg masses: Walk down the farm road to the lower pond. Standing by the side of the pond looking in, look into the far right "corner" of the pond, closest to the road. Tucked under the overhanging canes of thorny shrubs are MANY egg masses. They are ~ grapefruit sized & attached to branches underwater. We picked up a mass & the critters inside were crescent-shaped, but no delineating features were apparent. Wear rubber boots or waders would be better. I filled up one boot when I walked in too far, but just had to have a better look. I'll go back & watch them develop & hopefully figure out if they are wood frogs or salamanders.
I saw what looked like the head of a green frog pop up from below and sit among the egg masses. Is that possible?

Spotted salamanders: The upper pond has a little stream feeding it. We saw the 2 spotted salamanders right where the stream enters the upper pond in about 8 inches of water, just walking across the bottom. When I tried to catch one, they scooted under the leaf litter at the bottom of the stream.

The toads were trilling along the farm road & when we reached the puddles they were in, they were EVERYWHERE! I picked up a number of males & they vibrated & called while I held them. Tom said it was their release call & they were thinking I was another male accidentally trying to mate with them.

The peepers were deafening & all around us. We finally saw one on a log in the pond, but other than that we couldn't pick out a single one! They sounded like they were in the trees around us, but we just couldn't find them. Is there a trick we don't know?

It was pouring rain for about 1/2 of the hour that we were in the park, but it was a warm rain & it was enjoyable to be stomping about in the dark & the rain with only a flashlight. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Anyway, I went home soaked and muddy, but what a blast! I've decided I need a pair of waders now!

Debbie

3/20/2007 Report by Debbie Bryant on wood frogs at PV Park.
I stopped by PV Park at about 3:45 PM today. I didn’t hear anything from the parking lot, but decided to take a walk down to the pond anyway. As I headed down the little hill towards the pond, I heard a loud chorus of “quacking”! I quietly approached the pond. I counted about 30 floating wood frogs before they began to submerge. A handful of frogs didn’t submerge as I stood at the edge, but they all stopped calling. I could see them clearly through my binoculars. Their coloration was darker than when I caught that beautiful fellow at Powdermill in October, but they still had the distinctive black mask. I was so excited to see and hear them! What a great way to celebrate the first day of spring!!!

Debbie

Upper Pond - Wood Frog Habitat      Wood Frog Typical Calling Position

Click this link to hear chorus sound of Rana Sylvatica (wood frog)