I So Want This For Whites Creek

If you want to protect rare species, first you have to find them. In the past few years, biologists have developed a powerful new tool to do that. They've discovered that they can often find traces of animal DNA in streams, ponds — even oceans.

What's Swimming in the River?

This is Why We Do It

Raise Money for Conservation Fisheries, I'm talking about! US Fish and Wildlife Note

Diana's In The Yard

This is that time of year when the relatively rare Diana Fritillary butterflies get together and make sure there are Diana Fritillaries next year. The males arise in late spring and survive until the girls come out, about now, actually. These shots were taken on opposite sides of the house today. Males on the butterfly bush and female on the monarda. Interesting lives they have, albeit short ones. The males will die soon after mating. The girls will survive until frost. They deposit their eggs near violets but not on them. The babies hatch and don't eat but crawl into safe cracks and crevices in the earth to winter over until spring. Those that survive, a small percentage, find the violets and start eating. Then everything starts all over again. Amazing! And yes, there is a lot of activity for the sharp eyed to observe...

What's Making All That Noise Out There in the Puddles?

With all this rain we have a renewal of toads calling all over the county. Here is a resource that will let you play the call and see what's making all that racket out in the yard. Right now the eastern spadefoot toads are the main songs we are hearing. We also hear the occasional narrow-mouthed toad. Both tend to call after heavy rains. I would be interested in everyone posting what they can identify...
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