This Year's Guest
Froggy Festivities and Salamandrid Shindigs: spring stirrings in the amphibian world
David Cunnington is the Ecological Gifts Program Coordinator at Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service. He has worked to protect endangered and threatened wildlife for the past 10 years. Before he became involved in species at risk, he conducted surveys of bats, amphibians and reptiles in the South Okanagan, researched control of introduced tree snakes on the island of Guam, and investigated the effects of fish stocking on amphibian populations.
Dave has worked and lived in the Bay of Fundy, Algonquin Park, Guam, the South Okanagan, the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Canadian prairies. He has also participated in the Christmas Bird Count on Mayne Island several times. This promises to be a lively and informative afternoon, not to be missed, with delicious refreshments included.
The Presentation
Thanks to Mike Nadeau for the following summary of Dave's talk:
On March 19, we held our AGM at the Agricultural Hall. We had good attendance, with lots of smiles and fresh baked goodies. We unanimously received the business and financials, and in fact every vote was refreshingly supported by everyone in the hall. We thanked Peter Askin and Barbara MacIntyre, who stepped down from the board, for their years of service; and welcomed Deb Foote, and Malcom Inglis. Peter Askin was the force behind the Broom Action Team (BAT). If you'd like to get out and tackle the invasive hoards, the new contact is Harold Kasinski, who is always looking for a few good “bashers.” After the AGM, a crowd ignored the sunny weather to hear David Cunnigham's interesting talk titled “Froggy Festivities and Salamandrid Shindigs: Spring Stirrings in the Amphibian World.” David treated us to his wealth of information from working with amphibians including the history and characteristics of our local froggy friends. Did you know? Amphibians were the first vertebrates to come up on land, about 400 million years ago. They are the only vertebrates to go through a total metamorphosis, going from water to land. They possess permeable skin, which water and compounds pass through: they breathe and drink through their skin! Most of us have seen a frog or two hopping across the road, or hiding in a wood pile but this time of year they REALLY make themselves known!
Normally reclusive, the Pacific Chorus Frog (formally the Pacific Tree Frog), congregate around ponds, ditches and water courses to sing every spring. David informed us only the male frogs and toads vocalize they do this to attract mates and advertise their territory. They accomplish this by forcing air over their vocal chords between their inflated throats and lungs, so they sing without opening their mouths! We also learned about their life cycles and how various amorous amphibians make tadpoles.
Historically, amphibians have been seen as an expression of water. In many mythological traditions worldwide, the link has been so great, that in times of drought, various cultures worship amphibians to restore the natural cycles and bring the rains. Right now frogs need our help. Since the 1970s, amphibian numbers around the world have been declining; once large populations are facing extinction. We can do a few things locally to lessen our impact on these creatures who are vital to our local ecosystems. Preserving brush and aquatic plants around riparian areas can provide vital cover and habitat. Be careful with chemical fertilizers and sewage as they are particularly sensitive to these and have no choice but to absorb them through their skin. Please do not use herbicides such as Round-Up (which is banned on a few Gulf Islands) which has been proven to adversely affect amphibians. Also note that introducing fish to waterways can wipe out frog and salamanders as tadpoles and eggs are used as food for most fish species. Enjoy the chorus!
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| A splendidlly camouflaged salamander | A Wood Frog on the forest floor |
More Froggy Information!
BC Frogwatch
Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Network
Last Year
The 2010 AGM took place on Saturday March 13th at 1:30 pm at the Ag Hall
After the short business meeting and refreshments our special guest, Odin Scholz delivered the address on the topic of "Restoration Notes from a Neighbouring Isle." Odin received his BSc. honours degree from the University of Toronto in Environmental Science and Anthropology in 1992. He followed up with the Restoration of Natural Systems Program at UVic in 1998-99 and has been working in the field of Ecological Restoration for the past 10 years with the Galiano Conservancy Association where he is now "Restoration Coordinator."
He has also been working as a private contractor (Ecological Restorationist) doing several contracts on Galiano Island, working with the Lillooet Naturalists Society and the Cayoose Creek First Nation's Band in Lillooet over the past 4 years designing and implementing a restoration project in Lillooet's Dry Ponderosa Pine grassland ecosystem.
This address was of great interest to those involved in our own restoration project on Henderson Hill, and the ups and downs of such a program raised smiles of sympathy from our own team, and heightened respect from our less engaged visitors.
Some pictures from our 2010 AGM have been put up on our gallery page
Voting members listrn to Board Reports for 2010
