Race Against Time Reprieve!

 

Water is Back — same spot as the picture in yesterday’s post (facing the opposite direction)

Overnight there was about 3/4 inch of rain in the Homer area and the very same path through the wetland I posted a picture of yesterday showing only deep footprints in thick mud is now again covered in water. Amazing what a good rain will do, and good news for the many tadpoles yet to transform into frogs...

Also apparently good news for the toad population. After many weeks— probably a month or more of silence of the toads, American toads were calling again late this afternoon apparently quite encouraged by the additional rainfall. The gray treefrogs were also calling loudly from the trees surrounding the wetland. I haven’t heard from them in a quite a while either. I am wondering since these two species come special to the wetland just to breed and otherwise live away from it, if they are especially encouraged to sing when there is a good rain? I will try to keep my eyes open for new toad eggs and try to keep better track of the transformation of the new "toadpoles" as I apparently missed the last batch's exit from the pond.  They should make it before it goes dry -- they are very quick. I am skeptical, however, if the singing treefrogs indicates they are thinking of a second round of tadpoles that those would make it in time.

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