Vernal Pools: Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation
Story & photograph by Donald Partelow
On the 2nd day of spring the Pawling Library welcomed Education Director Julie Hart from the Dutchess Land Conservancy. Ms. Hart appeared at the library for her presentation Vernal Pools: Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation. This was the first in a series of programs and events scheduled at the Pawling Library in celebration of Earth Day.
The program was held a month in advance of Earth Day for one very special reason: Timing. In early spring when conditions are just right, at night during a warm rain, salamanders and frogs journey by the thousands to vernal pools to breed. (A vernal pool, or intermittent woodland pool, is a shallow depression containing a small body of water that evaporates by the end of summer.) This annual occurrence is called Big Night. There is actually more than just one Big Night. The mass amphibian migration to vernal pools often takes place over the course of several evenings.
Ms. Hart stressed the importance of vernal pools, which many species, not only amphibians, depend upon. The audience attained a bounty of information throughout the PowerPoint presentation. One enthusiastic teen, fascinated with salamanders, traveled from Beacon, NY with his mom to be with us. It was truly wonderful to see a young person filled with so much knowledge, interest, and respect for the environment.
“Land, then, is not merely soil, it is a fountain of energy flowing through a circuit of soils, plants and animals,” said Ms. Hart, quoting American ecologist Aldo Leopold. Our earth is a precious miracle, and for an hour we were fortunate to have Judy Hart show us a few remarkable ways our planet sparkles.
One participant had this to say about the presentation: “It brought back such wonderful childhood memories of catching salamanders in the woods. The program gave us all a nice, scientific foundation to the natural childhood experiences. Our Earth Mother did a great job, and I was glad to see a good turnout for the program.”
Judy Hart is the Dutchess Land Conservancy’s resident expert on ecology and biodiversity. Thank you Judy Hart for an amazing program, and especially for the concern you have for our world.
