Spring Flora and Wildlife Notes

2013
Terri Armata's Spring flora and Wildlife notes
          If we have a warm, rainy evening, watch for amphibians (frogs, salamanders)  as they journey  across roads to pools to breed.  If you find a vernal pool, take a look for jelly-like masses of frog and salamander eggs. 
           Look up! Raptors are making their way north too. The Broad-Winged Hawks should be moving through our area in mid-April to the beginning of May. 
           Be on the lookout on nice warm days for Mourning Cloak, Eastern Comma, and Compton Tortoiseshell Butterflies on dirt roads or forest trails.  In rich hardwood woods, the white butterfly seen weakly flying is either the West Virginia White or the Mustard White. 
          Check out an exciting new Citizen Science website: eButterfly! Now you can enter your observations just like eBIrd. Vermont Center for Ecostudies is coordinating it in this State. 
So... Binocs, field guides and pencils in hand everyone. This is an exciting time of year.

Broad-Winged Hawk

Comptons Tortoiseshell

Eastern Comma

Mourning Cloak

Mustard White

West Virginia White