A salamander crosses the road on a “big night” during spring migration. Submitted photo
The Camden Public Library plans a new series of nature programs in partnership with the Maine-based nonprofit organization, Center for Wildlife Studies.
The first program in the Wild Maine series is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29. The online program will be hosted by Greg LeClair, project coordinator for Maine Big Night, and will explore amphibian migration in Maine, according to a news release from the library.
On warm rainy nights in spring, frogs and salamanders migrate from their wintering shelters to their breeding ponds throughout New England. While these events, known as “big nights,” are a sign of spring, significant numbers of amphibians are killed on roadways during these migrations.
Maine Big Night is a statewide community science project focused on collecting data on where amphibians cross roads, and where crossings are particularly deadly. This talk will discuss road ecology, amphibians, and how to participate in the project as a volunteer scientist this spring.
Greg LeClair Submitted photo
LeClair is a doctorate student at the University of Maine, where he studies Ecology and Environmental Science. He grew up in central Maine, moving frogs and salamanders out of roads as a child.
He has continued his annual salamander-chauffeuring, starting the Maine Big Night: Amphibian Migration Monitoring project as a senior at Unity College in 2018. Learn more about Maine Big Night by visiting its Facebook Page.
To learn more about the Center for Wildlife Studies, visit centerforwildlifestudies.org. To register and to receive a Zoom link to attend, visit the “What’s Happening” adult events calendar at librarycamden.org.
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