Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission

Beekman Road will be closed tonight starting at  7pm. 

So, if you come out, please dont come before then. 

NOAA and Weather.com both have rain the forecast for tonight. 

If anything moves tonight, we expect it would be with the rain, after dark. But its just a guess. Spotted salamanders migration may be over for this year.  We found salamander egg masess in the large vernal pool a few days ago, and we do not know if there are more indibiduals who did not make to the pool yet.  We expect to see spring peepers and other frogs. If you see anythign tonight, please let us know - write to us to friends.ebec@gmail.com.

Salamander egg masses, Beekman Road veranl pool, March 18, 2012

If you come out tonight, please be aware that Church Lane is very dark and cars move at fast speeds. Use extreme caution when parking or crossing the road and especially be watchful of your children.  If you come to the road, EVERYONE should have a flashlight. It will help see things in the dark, make the night much more fun and prevent accidentally stepping on a salamander or spring peeper.

NEVER WALK ALONG BEEKMAN ROAD IF IT IS NOT CLOSED,  IT SIMPLY IS NOT SAFE!  

Wow...it happened again! Dry air made its way into our area about mid-day and pushed out any chance of late day showers. The clouds that hung around all day, coupled with an east wind off the ocean, also depressed temperatures and we never got the showers or drizzle that was forecast. So, once again, conditions that favor a salamander migration just didn't pan out. As Yogi Berra once said "It's Deja Vu all over again". This weekend we are going to see if there are egg masses in the vernal pools and whether the salamanders might have snuck in on the rains that came late at night. Stay tuned, we will let everybody know what we find and what it might mean for the rest of the migration season ... 

Yesterday we wrestled with the decision about whether to close the road or not and finally decided not to. It stayed dry (ish) until about 7:30 when a light mist overtook East Brunswick. This developed into a heavier mist with an occassional drop or two throughout the night. We checked the road at 7:45 and again at 9 and although the spring peepers were in huge loud choruses, there were no salamanders out on the road. We also checked the road this morning and there were no road kills.

One very encouraging note is that for the first time in the past 8 years, we now have spring peepers calling from the small pool at the intersection of Church and Beekman. Hopefully that is the result of our road closing efforts allowing the frog population to rebound and colonize other wetlands in the area. 

So, what is on tap for today? We are carefully watching the weather and will decide alter today whether we should close the road or not. The forecasts are all over the place. The on-duty NOAA meterologist summed up the complexities really well in his discussion from 4:30AM this morning...here is a snipet from that:

NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING.

IF THE WESTERLIES WERE DISPLACED JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THE

NORTH, THEN THE PATTERN ALOFT WOULD LOOK RATHER MORE LIKE EARLY

SUMMER THAN VERY LATE WINTER TODAY. THAT`S JUST A SNARKY WAY OF

SAYING THAT THE DYNAMICS ON TAP FOR TODAY ARE NOT VERY IMPRESSIVE.

DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE SUN ANGLE STILL IS FAIRLY LOW; THE DAYS

STILL AREN`T ALL THAT LONG, AND THE TRAPPED COOL AIR IN PLACE LIKELY

IS GOING TO TAKE ITS TIME MAKING WHAT MAY ONLY BE A PARTIAL EXIT. WE

THEREFORE HAVE NOT MUCH EXCEEDED THE CHANCE POPS THAT STAT GUIDANCE

GIVES US; WE ONLY MENTION ISOLATED THUNDER FROM MID MORNING ONWARD;

WE KEEP THE CLOUDS AROUND WELL INTO THE DAY, AND WE FAVOR THE COLDER

GUIDANCE (THE MET) EVERYWHERE EXCEPT FAR WEST.-- End Changed Discussion --  

Predicting the salamander migration this year has been nothing short of frustrating and difficult. Field biologists across the state are all talking about it, so we are not alone. It has been quite dry for the past month, something that is not typical for late February and March. But last night, a colleague of mine found Blue spotted salamanders and eggs in some vernal pools in Morris County, so despite the dry weather things are happening. 

In our area, each time the forecast is for rain in the afternoon or early evening, by the time we get close, the rain gets pushed back or taken out altogether. This seems to be happening again today. We may still close the road tonight if the rain actually happens before midnight, but it will probably be a last minute decision unless it rains this afternoon.  We are also closely watching tomorrow's weather. Right now tomorrow looks promising but who knows what subsequent forecast models or the weather will actually be? Stay tuned and Crinkleroot help!!!   

With the warm rain last night and early thismorning the vernal pools on Beekman are finally filled with large robustchoruses of spring peepers and chorus frogs! I drove the road for about an hourthis morning before first light and there was a single spotted salamander thatI moved and literally dozens and dozens of spring peepers hopping around. Ialso saw two pickerel frogs and a vole. We are carefully watching the weatherforecasts and if it rains again this afternoon or early evening we will closethe road. We are also closely monitoring Friday's forecast. At this point theweather on Friday looks dynamite with a warm wet day. So stay tuned.

NOAA hourly forecast

If you come out when the road is closed, please be aware that Church Lane is very dark and cars move at fast speeds. Use extreme caution when parking or crossing the road and especially be watchful of your children.  If you come to the road, EVERYONE should have a flashlight. It will help see things in the dark, make the night much more fun and prevent accidentally stepping on a salamander or spring peeper.

NEVER WALK ALONG BEEKMAN ROAD IF IT IS NOT CLOSED,  IT SIMPLY IS NOT SAFE!   

What happened last night? Simple...We Goofed! We watched the weather all day yesterday and with each forecast the rain was pushed back and compressed. Late in the day, Liti and I spoke and we decided to keep the road closed on the outside chance that there would still be a decent rain for at least a short period late at night. It's been so dry for the past few weeks, we are hanging on every potential rainfall with the hope that the salamanders will take advantage of it and move. But alas, the road closing was likely nothing more than an inconvenience for drivers last night. The rain never really came except for a very brief shower or two very late at night. At 11:30PM my deck was dry and it wasnt raining and at 6AM it was barely wet. Oh well, such is nature and we are sorry if the road closing was a pain for anyone last night. We always hate closing it for nothing, even knowing that we always err on the side of caution fo the salamanders and frogs.  Here is a link to yesterday's weather.     

The weather for the next week looks dry with only a shot at showers mid-week. We really need rain!    

Beekman Road will be closed tonight but not until sometime between 6;30 and 7.  So, if you come out, please dont come before then. 

NOAA and Weather.com both have rainin the forecast from about 8 or 9 tonight until early morning. The rain should be showery at first and then moderately heavy after that for ashort time. If anything moves tonight, we expect it would be with the rain, sometime well after dark. But its just a guess. Spotted salamanders will also move sometimes on warm humid nights preceding rain but the largest and most significant movements to the vernal pools are almost always in the rain. Obviously if you've been outside today,warmth is not an issue!

If you come out tonight (or any night when the road is closed), please be aware that Church Lane is very dark and cars move at fast speeds. Use extreme caution when parking or crossing the road and especially be watchful of your children.  If you come to the road, EVERYONE should have a flashlight. It will help see things in the dark, make the night much more fun and prevent accidentally stepping on a salamander or spring peeper.

NEVER WALK ALONG BEEKMAN ROAD IF IT IS NOT CLOSED,  IT SIMPLY IS NOT SAFE!   

So, the weatherman has struck again in what seems like a story we've heard a number of times this year. Rain forecast early in the day has basically petered out with each subsequent model run. This morning, rain was forecast to start sometime close to dark and then be over by about 5AM. With the latest forecast, the rain is now forecast to start sometime well after dark and end by 4ish. These conditions are unlikely to trigger a big migration, if any at all. But you never know. And of course, as always, let us know if you find something. However the road will be closed, so feel free to take a walk and enjoy being out! And please, heed the safety warnings: 

If you come out tonight (or any night when the road is closed), please beware that Church Lane is very dark and cars move at fast speeds. Use extreme caution when parking or crossing the road and especially be watchful of your children.  If you come to the road, EVERYONE should have a flashlight. It will help see things in the dark, make the night much more fun and prevent accidentally stepping on a salamander or spring peeper.

NEVER WALK ALONG BEEKMAN ROAD IF IT IS NOT CLOSED,  IT SIMPLY IS NOT SAFE!   

Just a quick update. Friday night we closed the road because rain was forecast to come in after dark and continue through early Saturday.  Reports from the road just after dark were that there was nothing moving at that time. If anyone was at the road later in the evening please let us know what you saw. Reports from elsewhere around the state where rain started earlier in the evening were that some spotted salamanders moved overnight. So, we probably had some movement too. The next substantial warmish rain would seem to be a good bet for a big migration whenever it finally occurs. So far the upcoming week looks dry.

It's funny how we had the earliest salamander we've ever found on Beekman Road in mid-February and everything was pointing toward a super early migration with the crazy mild winter.  And then nature works its way back to normal and here we are in early March waiting for a big night. It also just might be that this year the migration will be extremely spread out occuring in smaller waves of movement over a larger number of nights. Only time will tell, but if nothing else it's exciting to see what will happen!

Yesterday I went to the pools and looked beneath a lot of logs and didn't find a single spotted salamander. But I did hear the first small chorus of spring peepers, which in years past has been a precursor of the spotted salamander migration.    

Here is a photo from yesterday from the bigger pool.

Beekman the salamander returned home after participating in an Option Green presentation last Thursday.  On Friday, Max and Matt, fourth graders in Bowne-Munro school, released Beekman in the woods near Beekman Road, the salamander’s namesake. See pictures of Matt, Max and Beekman’s great adventure near the vernal pools.  

Beekman Road will be closed tonight. The latest NOAA forecast is for rain developing shortly after dark and temperatures about 44 degrees. This is a close call in terms of weather as we would prefer to see rain in the afternoon too. There is also a bit of disagreement between the various weather outlets on the start time of the rain. But we've decided to close the road to err on the side of caution. Field biologists around the state that we have been talking to have all been commenting on how difficult it has been this year to predict the migration and activity at vernal pools.  Note that the road may be closed later than normal and that if there is any movement we are not expecting until well after dark. But of course, what the heck do we know, we are just making an educated guess!  

If you come out tonight, please be aware that Church Lane is very dark and cars move at fast speeds. Use extreme caution when parking or crossing the road and especially be watchful of your children.  If you come to the road, EVERYONE should have a flashlight. It will help see things in the dark, make the night much more fun and prevent accidentally stepping on a salamander or spring peeper.

NEVER WALK ALONG BEEKMAN ROAD IF IT IS NOT CLOSED,  IT SIMPLY IS NOT SAFE!

AS THE FORECAST INCLUDES A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS, IF YOU ARE OUT TONIGHT AND IT BEGINS TO LIGHTNING OR WEATHER CONDITIONS SEEM OTHERWISE UNSAFE, PLEASE LEAVE THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY.

The latest NOAA forecast for East Brunswick is on the NOAA website.

A young male salamander was a guest at the Vernal Pool presentation, an Option Green event that took place on March 1st at the Cultural Arts Center. What's a good name for a spotted salamander who lives on Beekman road? It was not easy to chose the best name from the list of name suggested by the salamander's friends in East Brunswick.

Some of the names suggested were: Neon, Sally Joe, Spot, Swimmer, Dottie, Flying Alpacka,  Mr. Sanders,  Squiggles, Stanley,  Beakman & Scaly Sally. 

After consuling with Crinkleroot, our salamander spokesman, we chose the name Beekman, suggested by Mrs. Peterson's 5th grade students at Lawrence Brook School. After the presentation and naming ceremony, Beekman had a fun time playing with his new friends. Tomorrow evening Beekman will be taken back to his home at the Beekman Road vernal pool where he can be together with his relatives and friends in his natural environment.

So what happened last night? Well, we had one male spotted salamander and a few spring peepers cross Beekman Road, at least while we were there. Certainly not the migration event we were hoping for. The forecast all day was for rain and temperatures in the mid to upper 40's, but we never got there. Although it was quite wet, the rain petered out to mist and occasional drizzle and the temperatures held steady at about 42 degrees. It seems like it was just a bit too cold to trigger much movement and maybe not enough rain fell. We spent some time looking under logs in the woods and it was surprisingly dry beneath them, so maybe the rain just wasnt heavy enough to soak the forest floor into the gorund where the salamanders are burrowed. But with each road closing we learn something new. So the lack of a big migration movement was in many ways as interesting as if we had seen many salamanders, maybe just not as much fun. We are carefully watching the weather for Friday and Saturday. Both days are forecast for warm weather and rain, although the timing of the rain maybe a bit imperfect. Keep an eye on the updates over the next 24 hours. 

Join us tonight at the Cultural Arts Center on Cranbury Road at 7PM for a presentation on our vernal pools and salamanders and frogs and why we have worked so hard over the past 8 years to protect them... 

Learn more about our spotted salamander population. Click on the Salamander Crossing page of the Friends' website to read about the amphibian community of the Beekman Road's vernal pools and about the Amphibian Protection Plan. Meet Crinkleroot, our spokesman who can speak Salamander. See how the area has changed in the last 80 years, find a map of the area and directons, and links to award and media coverage of the salamander migration across Beekman Road. It is all on the Salamander Crossing page.

Beekman Road will DEFINITELY be closed tonight. The weather forecast is for a soaking rain with temperatures in the 40's. 

Today: Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 44. East wind between 6 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight: Periodsof rain, mainly before 5am. Low around 42. East wind between 5 and 8mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

If you come out tonight, please be aware that Church Lane is very dark and cars move at fast speeds. Use extreme caution when parking or crossing the road and especially be watchful of your children.  If you come to the road, EVERYONE should have a flashlight. It will help see things in the dark, make the night much more fun and prevent accidentally stepping on a salamander or spring peeper.

AS THE FORECAST INCLUDES A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS, IF YOU ARE OUT TONIGHT AND IT BEGINS TO LIGHTNING OR WEATHER CONDITIONS SEEM OTHERWISE UNSAFE, PLEASE LEAVE THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY.

I'm going to let the NOAA meterologists explain the complexity of prediciting what might happen and when this week by simply copying and posting their latest forecast update. The highlights are the potential for significant rain mid-week from a storm sytem that is still west of the West Coast and the uncertain location of a warm front in our area at that time period. So, all in all, its just too early to know how the weather will shape up this week but there is plenty to keep an eye on. At this point, Wednesday is the target, but forecasts of how western storm systems will impact the east coast are notoriously difficult to predict this far out. The Friends also has a free talk (by me) about the salamanders and vernal pools on Thursday at 7PM at the Cultural Arts Center. Keep an eye on the Friends website for updates, or better yet, join the Freinds for the latest information. If the weather turns out to be perfect on Thursday for a migration, we just might have to move the talk to Beekman Road!  Here is the NOAA forecast with all of its caveats, hedging, model issues and guesses:

THE SHORT WAVE TRIGGERING THE MIDWEEK EVENT IS STILL WELL WEST OF

THE WEST COAST...SO TIMING HERE IS STILL A BIT PROBLEMATIC.

HOWEVER...MODELS ARE COMING AROUND TO A SLOWER/COLDER SOLUTION (WITH

THE 0000 UTC GFS STILL PROBABLY A BIT TOO WARM). IT APPEARS AS

THOUGH A WEAK SURFACE WAVE WILL DEVELOP ON THE WARM FRONT...PROBABLY

KEEPING IT SOUTH OF THE AREA THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HOWEVER...THIS IS

STILL A FEW DAYS AWAY...AND THE POSITION OF THE WARM FRONT IS STILL

UNCERTAIN. IT WILL HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY

AND THURSDAY...WHEN AND WHERE A SECONDARY DEVELOPS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY IS

PROBLEMATIC AT BEST. THERE IS NOT A CONSENSUS ON THIS YET. THE

POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR WINTRY PRECIPITATION ACROSS NORTHERN AREAS

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THE FIRST PART OF THURSDAY...BUT MUCH HINGES ON

THE PLACEMENT OF THE LOW. COLD AIR WILL BE AVAILABLE JUST TO THE

NORTHWEST OF THE AREA...BUT JUST WHERE THIS WILL BE IMPORTANT IS

STILL A BIG QUESTION MARK. FOR NOW...NOT MUCH WAS CHANGED FROM THE

PREVIOUS FORECAST. AS MENTIONED EARLIER...THE TRIGGERING SYSTEM FOR

THIS EVENT IS STILL WEST OF THE EVEN THE WEST COAST...SO STAY TUNED.    

On the night of Friday, February 24th, between 6:30pm and 8:30pm, six large males were seen on Beekman Road. Also on the road were 10 spring peeper and about  20 people of all ages. 

It is difficult to predict, but after seeing a few males crossing this week, we think that the next rainy night a larger number of spotted salamander will migrate to the vernal pools to start breeding. And it may happen soon… follow the updates on conditions and road closing and join us at Beekman Road for a rainy night migration party with salamanders and the people who love them.

Moderately heavy rain moving through EB now. Not sure what tonight will bring in terms of salamanders, but isn't that the real fun of all of this? If we knew exactly what would happen, it would take the anticipation out the whole thing. It's much more interesting to try and figure out how the weather and season might combine to trigger the migration then to just show up knowing what will happen each year. And then when the salamanders finally make an appearance, it's just amazing and we never tire of it. Each time is as exciting as the first. So, if you come out and don't see any salamanders, don't be discouraged. Just try again on the next raw rainy night. And PLEASE be sure that anyone coming has a flashlight. It is safer and more fun that way.

 The latest NOAA forecast is:

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...

-- Changed Discussion --

A WARM FRONT WHICH HAS MOVED NORTH INTO SOUTHERN DELAWARE AND THE

ADJACENT SECTION OF MARYLAND/S EASTERN SHORE WON/T HAVE TIME TO

ADVANCE MUCH FURTHER BEFORE A COLD FRONT MOVES IN FROM THE WEST.

TEMPERATURES AT 3 PM RANGE FROM 64 IN GEORGETOWN TO 45 IN WILMINGTON

TO 33 IN MOUNT POCONO. THERE IS A CONCERN FOR SEVERE WEATHER IN THE

FAR SOUTHERN PORTION OF DELAWARE LATE THIS AFTERNOON...BUT TIME IS

RUNNING SHORT. A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED JUST TO OUR SOUTH BUT

GIVEN THE ABOVE CIRCUMSTANCES NO WATCH IS EXPECTED IN THIS CWA. AS

THE FRONT APPROACHES...WINDS WILL INCREASE THEN CHANGE TO A WESTERLY

DIRECTION. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT AND HAS BEEN EXTENDED IN

TIME THROUGH 7 PM SATURDAY. GUSTS OVER 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE THIS

EVENING BEFORE DIMINISHING DURING THE LATE OVERNIGHT HOURS. A FEW

RUMBLES OF THUNDER CANNOT BE RULED OUT BUT HAVE GENERALLY NOT BEEN

INCLUDED WITH THE GRIDS. TEMPERATURES WILL COOL DOWN...WITH LOWS

RANGING FROM THE MID 20S NORTH TO UPPER 30S SOUTH.

Beekman Road will be closed today for amphibian migration.

More information on the Salamander page. 

If you come out at night, please be aware that Church Lane is very dark and cars move at fast speeds. Use extreme caution when parking or crossing the road and especially be watchful of your children.  If you come to the road, EVERYONE should have a flashlight. It will help see things in the dark, make the night much more fun and prevent accidentally stepping on a salamander or spring peeper.

We are still very much on the fence about the potential for any migration tonight. The weather forecast continues to change with each subsequent model run and between weather forecast outlets too. The latest NOAA model from 12:53 today has continued a pattern of downgrading the temperatures and the potential for rain as the afternoon goes on, but they have kept 40+ degree temperatures and potential showers in the forecast through early evening. This makes for a really difficult call about what to do tonight. We will likely make a last minute call on this one later this afternoon. And, there still have been no choruses of spring peepers....Here is the latest NOAA Forecast Discussion:

NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...

-- Changed Discussion --

A WARM FRONT DRAPED OVER THE SOUTHERN DELMARVA IS HAVING A

DIFFICULT TIME MOVING NORTH. AS A RESULT...THE PREVIOUS WARM

TEMPERATURES FORECAST TO OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON PROBABLY WON/T OCCUR.

THEREFORE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR THIS AFTERNOON (AND ASSOCIATED

HOURLY TEMPERATURES) HAVE BEEN LOWERED. WINDS HAVE ALSO BEEN

ADJUSTED TO KEEP AN EASTERLY COMPONENT ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA

UNTIL THE COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS CAN`T BE RULED OUT ANYWHERE THIS AFTERNOON, SO

THE POP GRIDS HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED. THUNDERSTORMS (MAINLY

ISOLATED) ARE STILL POSSIBLE SOUTH OF THE I-95 CORRIDOR THIS

AFTERNOON, AND THOSE GRIDS HAVE ALSO BEEN MAINTAINED.

DRASTIC CHANGES ARE IN STORE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AS A COLD FRONT

APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. EASTERLY WINDS WILL START TO SHIFT TO

THE SOUTHEAST AND INCREASE A LITTLE IN SPEED. THEN...AS THE FRONT

ACTUALLY CROSSES THE REGION BETWEEN THE 22Z AND 00Z TIME

FRAME...GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. WHILE A FEW

RUMBLES OF THUNDER CANNOT BE RULED OUT...MOST AREAS NORTH OF THE

I-95 CORRIDOR SHOULDN/T EXPERIENCE THEM.

-- End Changed Discussion --