Every spring the salamanders migrate on the first warm, rainy night of the year. Unfortunately on the first warm, rainy night of this spring, I forgot and we stayed home reading Swallows and Amazons instead.
So last week (on the second warm and rainy night of the Spring season), the boys and I attempted a trip to see if there were any straggling, slowpoke salamanders to be seen. The night was a bit colder that evening and, although it rained all day, it was not raining when we left the house.
The boys and I left the sleeping girls home with Mike. We brought our flashlights and lanterns and walked for quite some time around the marsh along the trail but did not see a single salamander. I think it was just a tad too cold and the fact that it stopped raining at dinnertime did not help our cause. What we did see, however, was a couple dozen spring peepers on the path. They are such cute little fellows! In addition to the peepers we saw, we heard hundreds of them. They made quite a chorus there in the dark.
Spring peepers are found in wetland areas where grass and water mix. They are hardy in the cold and become very vocal this time of year. Peepers let us know that the ground is thawing and spring is on its way. They are only about 1 inch in length and can be positively identified by the "X" on their back and the presence of toe pads. They also have moustaches. As the weather gets warmer, we will be hearing more from the peepers who make their telltale song "Peep in, Peep Out" by inflating sacs under their chins with air. They sound similar to a baby chick.
The neat thing about nature study is that many times we set out to study one thing and end up learning about another. We wanted to see the salamanders but found the spring peepers instead. To pass up the chance to study these little amphibians would be foolish. I am sure the kids and I will get out and see some salamanders this spring. We'll keep looking until we find them, under a rock in a shady spot near a stream I'm sure. If there's one thing we are, its persistent. :)
