Stillwaters wants to know if you see or hear non-native frogs
Melissa Fleming, Ph.D., Program Director
The chorus of male Pacific tree frogs calling for mates is one of the first harbingers of spring in Kitsap County. Native Kitsap frogs start breeding as early as January to make the most of the temporary ponds formed by winter rains.
Pictured left: Green frog in stormwater pond in Kingston.
Later in the spring, once local waters warm up, the calls of two non-native species with a different breeding strategy can be heard. The American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus, has a call that sounds like a loud, deep ‘ruumm…ruumm…jug-o-rum’ whereas the green frog, Lithobates clamitans, sounds like the ‘twang’ of plucking a loose banjo string.
Unlike native tree frogs (Pseudocris regilla) and red-legged frogs (Rana aurora), bullfrogs and green frogs prefer to live and breed in permanent ponds and lakes. Because permanent water often has fish that prey on frog eggs, these species delay breeding until the water warms enough for their eggs to hatch in a matter of days rather than weeks.
Pictured left: Green frog in stormwater pond in Kingston.
Later in the spring, once local waters warm up, the calls of two non-native species with a different breeding strategy can be heard. The American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus, has a call that sounds like a loud, deep ‘ruumm…ruumm…jug-o-rum’ whereas the green frog, Lithobates clamitans, sounds like the ‘twang’ of plucking a loose banjo string.
Unlike native tree frogs (Pseudocris regilla) and red-legged frogs (Rana aurora), bullfrogs and green frogs prefer to live and breed in permanent ponds and lakes. Because permanent water often has fish that prey on frog eggs, these species delay breeding until the water warms enough for their eggs to hatch in a matter of days rather than weeks.
Tree Swallows & Tea Plants
“I’m remembering the delight of our recent Monday morning visit to Carpenter Lake. At Cindi’s urging, I took photos of a couple of notable things we were discussing. We were taken by the swallows’ activities, which are usually noted to nest in structures. Here, it appeared they had created a multi-story condominium in a tree snag near the lake. I can verify that I watched one go in and come out of a tree hole.”
- Susan McDonald |
“While we most typically see violet-green and barn swallows along the Carpenter Lake Trail, the swallows pictured show the features of tree swallows - the eye has no white above it and there do not seem to be white “saddles” wrapping around from the belly to the upper side.”
- Cindi Nevins |
Labrador Tea plants in bloom.
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Summer Volunteer Opportunities in Community Science at Stillwaters
Melissa Fleming, Ph.D., Program Director
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Stillwaters monitors a variety of environmental variables to assess the recovery of the lower Carpenter Creek watershed for salmonids since the removal of two undersized culverts near the mouth of the creek.
We accomplish this with a part time staff, college and high school interns, and dozens of volunteers who are the nervous system and life’s blood of everything we do. We are excited to be able to ramp up our training of new volunteers again for the first time in more than a year. We have opportunities for volunteers of varying abilities and energies, from very agile to more sedentary, all of which make critical contributions to our work.
Follow the link below for more details of some ongoing and upcoming projects!
For more information, email our Program Director, Melissa Fleming (melissa@stillwatersenvironmentalcenter.org).
We accomplish this with a part time staff, college and high school interns, and dozens of volunteers who are the nervous system and life’s blood of everything we do. We are excited to be able to ramp up our training of new volunteers again for the first time in more than a year. We have opportunities for volunteers of varying abilities and energies, from very agile to more sedentary, all of which make critical contributions to our work.
Follow the link below for more details of some ongoing and upcoming projects!
For more information, email our Program Director, Melissa Fleming (melissa@stillwatersenvironmentalcenter.org).
Recent Winter Storms & Shoreline Processes in Appletree Cove
Melissa Fleming, Ph.D., Program Director
Winter storms and shoreline processes in Appletree Cove left their mark on the cove this past winter. The first on November 13th moved the massive stump that had been resting upside down at the north end of the cove since the winter of 2017/2018. The second storm, two months later, eroded lawn at Arness Park prompting caution tape seaward of the giant Adirondack chairs.
Pictured left: Soft armoring with beach grass versus lawn erosion in the distance.
Pictured left: Soft armoring with beach grass versus lawn erosion in the distance.
New Stillwaters Blog
1st Adopt-A-Road Cleanup Completed!
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A small group of Stillwaters' volunteers and one staff beaver spent the afternoon on Saturday, May 1st, collecting 13 bags of litter from a 1.6 mile stretch of Barber Cutoff Road! Thanks to volunteers Beth Berglund, Amy Maule, David Dixson, and Laurie Yamamura, and Program Director, Melissa Fleming for making a difference - one you can see!
To volunteer for the next Adopt-A-Road Cleanup (date to be determined), please email Terry Pereida at stillwatersenvironmentalcenter.org. Pictured from left are David Dixson, Melissa Fleming, and Laurie Yamamura. |
Thank you to
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A grant renewal from Conservation, Research and Education Opportunities International (CREOi) supports our research documenting how changes in hydrology since the culvert removals (which restored natural tidal exchange and creek flow to the estuary) are affecting native and invasive plant communities in the salt marsh
on Carpenter Creek.
on Carpenter Creek.
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