A Project of the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University
Jefferson-blue spotted salamander complex has a large, robust body like spotted salamander--but lacks yellow spots. Jeff-blues have a large head and long toes, and like all salamanders, have stunning elbows. Photo by Ann Peters
"What a joy it is to feel the soft, springy earth under my feet once more..." - Helen Keller
It’s here – the time of year when it can feel like winter one day and spring the next. Snowmelt, warming temperatures, and the possibility of rain has us all wondering if forest amphibians will start their breeding migrations to woodland pools this week. Remember, migrations are weather-dependent and we look for three key factors to align: rainfall, air temperature, and thawed ground. These conditions will certainly vary across the estuary watershed; plus, nature is surprising, and the migration is not always perfectly predictable. For example, while we look for rainfall, in some cases, rapid snowmelt can create "wet weather" conditions and lure overwintering amphibians from underground.
 Word from the field today is that many woodland pools remain frozen, and forecasted nighttime temperatures appear to be dropping below 40F. We'll continue to keep an eye on local conditions (while shaking our Magic 8 Ball). Now is a great time to check that flashlights have fresh batteries, safety gear is ready, clipboards are stocked with AM&RC Project materials, and amphibian ID skills are honed! Visit the Volunteer Materials section of the AM&RC webpage to get prepared.
February 19 was a BIG NIGHT! A big night for AM&RC volunteer training, that is. Many thanks to the 150+ participants who attended our virtual training, including in-person watch groups hosted by the Town of Gallatin Conservation Advisory Council and Vassar College. A recording of the training is available and if you watch until the end, you can join us for lots of great participant questions and toad poetry!
With such a large geographic area to cover, the AM&RC Project benefits greatly from the support of local Hudson Valley partners who assist with coordinating volunteers in their communities. If you live in their service areas and would like to join others for the migration, check the partner list below for contact info. When you email a coordinator, write "Amphibian Migrations" in the subject line and please be mindful that many are volunteers themselves!
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Columbia County: Columbia Land Conservancy, Jenifer Rosete, jenifer.rosete@columbialand.org or https://columbialand.org/events/
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Columbia County (Ancram): Town of Ancram Conservation Advisory Council, Jamie Purinton, jamiepurinton@outlook.com
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Columbia County (Gallatin): Town of Gallatin Conservation Advisory Council, Alysia Pascaris cac.gallatin@gmail.com
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Dutchess County (Poughkeepsie): Vassar College, Keri VanCamp, preserve@vassar.edu
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Dutchess County (Milan, Red Hook, Tivoli): Saw Kill Watershed Community, https://sawkillwatershed.org/our-work/amphibian-migration-project/
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Dutchess County (Rhinebeck): Climate Smart Rhinebeck & Winnakee Land Trust, https://www.climatesmartrhinebeck.org/amphibian-crossings
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Putnam County (Beacon, Philipstown, Putnam Valley): Hudson Highlands Land Trust, Nadia Azizi, nadia.azizi@hhlt.org
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Rensselaer County (Sand Lake, Grafton, Petersburgh, Nassau, East Nassau, Poestenkill): Hudson Taconic Lands, Kim Murdick, kim@rensselaerplateau.org
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Ulster County (southern Ulster County towns): Wallkill Valley Land Trust, https://wallkillvalleylt.org/volunteer/
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Ulster County (Lloyd): Town of Lloyd Environmental Conservation Council, Neil Curri, townoflloydecc@gmail.com
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Westchester County (Bedford): Town of Bedford Conservation Board, Gentian Falstrom, gentian@gmail.com or https://www.bedfordny.gov/civicalerts.aspx?aid=286
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Westchester County (Pound Ridge)*: Town of Pound Ridge Conservation Board, https://www.townofpoundridge.com/conservationboard
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Westchester County (New Castle, Ossining, Somers, Lewisboro, Yorktown, Mount Pleasant): Teatown Lake Reservation, info@teatown.org
* Next week! Volunteers in the Town of Pound Ridge (Westchester County) can join the Pound Ridge Conservation Board and Pound Ridge Land Conservancy for an orientation meeting on Sunday, March 2, 1-3pm at Pound Ridge Library.
Thank you, AM&RC Project Partners!!!
 A recording of Getting the Word Out on Habitat Fragmentation, the Women in Science Speaker Series lecture with Laura Heady, is available to watch on YouTube. Topics covered include land-use and conservation planning, habitat fragmentation and the importance of preserving landscape connectivity, and how the volunteer AM&RC Project is helping to raise awareness and reduce mortality of amphibians during breeding migrations that cross roads.
The annual Women in Science series is hosted by the Hudson River Estuary Program in partnership with the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Did someone forward this email to you? If you'd like to subscribe to receive future AM&RC bulletins, you can sign up at the bottom of the AM&RC webpage. Inquiries about the project can be emailed to woodlandpool@dec.ny.gov.
The Amphibian Migrations & Road Crossings Project is part of a larger effort to partner with local communities to conserve forests, wetlands, and natural areas that sustain the health and resiliency of the entire estuary watershed.
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