Last Night Was Amazing!

We've waited not so patiently for conditions to come together to trigger the migration and last night it all fell in to place. Everyone that came out on the raw, rainy night was treated to quite the amphibian show starring nearly one hundred Spotted Salamanders, wood frogs, Red efts and countless Spring Peepers. It seemed to me that visitors and amphibians were equally reveling in the rain and celebrating that winter is truly over no matter what else Mother Nature might throw at us. A special shout out to Dhruv Rungta for his ongoing scout project to collect the first data ever on our migration. And, a second huge shout out to the East Brunswick Police Department for their assistance closing the road so it is safe for us and the amphibians to be there. Last night although I was enjoying every second and feeling like a kid with each salamander and frog I saw, I also focused on the human visitors that came out. I'm not sure of the number, but I suspect it was at least 75 people. Watching groups of people, families, kids, often bent over seeing salamanders and frogs and all with big smiles on their faces is as wonderful as knowing that the amphibians are able to safely cross Beekman Road. This is our 18th or 19th year closing Beekman Road and I hope everyone that has visited during the migration has taken something special away from it. We will definitely be closing the road again so stay tuned...and try and take a walk along the new county trails to the vernal pools on a warm day over the next few weeks and listen to the chorus of Spring Peepers and Chorus frogs that will be singing their hearts out.  There is so much more to come this time of the year!  

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