Big Night?

Today's weather is looking good for an amphibian migration or "Big Night." On the first warm-ish (in the 40's) rainy night of the year, animals such as spotted salamanders and woodfrogs emerge by the hundreds from their forest homes and travel to vernal pools, temporary ponds usually created by snowmelt, to lay their eggs. This is the only time of year you are likely to see these mysterious creatures - so, if you are in an adventurous mood, head outside tonight around 9:00 with a flashlight and take a walk down the road. Hopefully you'll see some action!

If possible, feel free to gently move animals off the road, but keep them going in the direction they are headed.

Here is a picture I took about 3 years ago of a female spotted salamander on Gould Pond Road in Henniker...

Good luck!

Newts!

Today we had a homeschool program called "The Big Thaw" - first we hung up nest boxes for the birds soon returning from the south. Then we went down for a little exploration of the pond. The ice is almost gone and the kids found all kinds of critters including very young damselfly nymphs, waterboatmen, water spiders, AND to our great delight, two adult Eastern Spotted Newts!

We haven't heard any peepers or woodfrogs yet, but are sure to soon. It is supposed to be warm and rainy this week, so we are hoping for an amphibian migration. Try going out with a flashlight in the dark (after 8:00pm) if it is raining and the temperature is over 40 degrees - you may be lucky enough to see spotted salamanders!

Sugaring season is here!

We have had warm days and cool nights lately and the sap is running! Please join us for one of our Maple Sugar Madness programs on Saturdays and Sundays in March from 10:00-12:00 or 1:00-3:00. Visitors will learn how to identify a sugar maple tree, drill into and tap a tree, taste some sap, watch the boiling process and sample the finished syrup! The cost is $8 (members of NHA) or $10 (non-members) or a family rate of $24 (members) and $30 (non-members). Plan to bring snowshoes if you have them, or you can borrow some of ours. Please call us at (603) 366-5695 to reserve your place in one of the programs!

Interesting frost

This morning we had a school group for a morning sugaring program. Walking down to the sugar house we noticed quite beautiful three-dimensional frost on the small trees, shrubs and weeds along the edge of the field. By the time we came back up an hour later, it was gone.

Snowy Day

After several weeks with no new snowfall, we finally had some last night - about 6 inches. It is a heavy wet snow (perfect for snowmen!) that is already starting to melt.

Two opossums!

Yesterday afternoon we saw an opossum again - this time headed down the hill below the Pardoe building walking on the well-worn snowshoe trail towards the barn. We had to get some things from the barn for our upcoming February WildQuest camp anyway, so we went down and watched the opossum for a bit, too. He/she came into the barnyard and sat for a long time outside one of the fences, focused rather intently on the Garden Shed. After a minute or two, a second opossum appeared! It came out from under the Garden Shed and wandered about, then went back under, joined soon thereafter by the first opossum. Perhaps we will have opossum babies in the near future?

Here is a picture of Opossum #1 while it was waiting outside the fence:

Opossum!

We have been seeing opossum tracks all over the place and today we looked out and saw him right around the corner of the Pardoe building!