Naromi Land Trust  
Forever. Sherman.  
                                                           March 2014 
                                                                                               Vol. 5, Issue 3     


Carolina Wren - Photo by Dennis Larkin 
In This Issue
FroGS
Salamanders in Love
NLT Walks
Quick Links

Like us on Facebook
NLT Events Calendar
March 30 - Frog Frolic

April 12 - Salamander Walk

May 3 - Bird Walk

July 11 - Annual Meeting

October 12 - Picnic
Members, Friends and Neighbors,
Spring must be right around the corner -- it has to be! This video of the vernal pool at Towner Hill has the sounds of Spring to remind us.
Peepers Wood Frogs in Full Chorus.MOV
Peepers Wood Frogs in Full Chorus
We've got many items to add to your calendar over the next few months, including our Annual Meeting on July 11.  Check out our Events page for a list. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Jim Utter will be the  presenter at the Annual Meeting, describing the unique characteristics of the Great Swamp. Check out the NLT Annual Meeting event page for more. Dr. Utter will also be delivering a
Crowd at the Bear Reality -
Photo by George Linkletter
presentation at the Patterson Library this weekend (see below).

Did you enjoy the article in last month's article about coyotes?  Here is an interesting article on coyote calls.

Thank you to everyone who came to the Bear Reality!  We had a packed house yet again.  Many thanks to the JCC for co-sponsoring this great event.
FroGS Events
Friends of the Great Swamp has these educational programs coming up.  For their full events calendar, click here.

March 9 - Year of the Salamander Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation has declared 2014 the Year of the Salamander!  Check out the CT DEEP webpage for lots of salamander info and activities.  Learn about salamanders and Vernal Pools in the Great Swamp. Presented by FroGS Board Members: Beth Herr, John Foley (NLT Board Member!)and Dr. Jim Utter.

Friday, March 9th at 2:00 PM, Patterson Library (1167 Route 311, Patterson, NY)

Baby Wood Turtles -
Photo by John Foley

March 12 - Wood Turtles and Box Turtles of The Great Swamp Turtle researchers, Michael Musnick and John Foley (NLT Board Member!), will present a rare look into the fascinating lives of wood turtles and box turtles as well as giving a brief overview of other species found in The Great Swamp.

They will share images of the turtles while discussing species characteristics, habitats, seasonal movements, and reasons for the population declines
which have led to their Special Concern status in New York.

Wednesday, March 12th 7:00 PM, Patterson Library (1167 Route 311, Patterson, NY)

Salamanders in Love
Steep Rock Association (the land trust in Washington CT) Board member Peary Stafford penned this lovely story about visiting a vernal pool during the reproductive cycle of spotted salamanders several years ago.  He has been gracious enough to share it with us:

Salamanders in Love

Two Spotted Salamanders -
Photo by John Foley
 
Try this the next time you're enjoying your dinner or a glass of wine on a rainy April night: put on a pair of boots, grab your rain gear and a strong flashlight, and head off for the hemlock forests of Steep Rock.  Once there, get out in the rain and stare into a pond for an hour or so.  If the time is right and you're discreet with the light, you might just get a glimpse into the intimate world of salamanders in love. Read on here.  
NLT Spring Walks
Frog Frolic - March 30, 11 AM -  Join us for the now annual walk to the top of Towner Hill to visit the vernal pool nestled between the double hilltop and bear witness to the full throated chorus of wood frogs.  This walk is weather dependent so be sure to check back to naromi.org for details.
P1010365
2011 Wood Frog Chorus - by Marge Josephson
Salamander Walk - (Tentatively) April 12, 7 PM - Walk to the same vernal pool to view the salamander activity the night of the first warm rain in April.  Reservations for this hike are required because the group will be going out at night in light rain.  Flashlights, rain gear, boots are a must.  This hike is scheduled for April 12th, but will be based on conditions, so may be actually on a different night.  Want to know what you are in for? Look at the Salamanders in Love story above.