Kelly et al.,

We encountered a swarm of very small northern toads at Anderson Lake in
Jefferson County last Saturday, 10-20 at least. I thought they didn't reach
that stage until late summer? What gives?

Gene Hunn.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelly Mcallister" <mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 3:00 PM
Subject: Re: Habitat for Shorebirds?


> I, like Carol, lament the loss of what I call early successional wetlands.
> They're great pond-breeding amphibian habitat as well as habitat for ducks
and
> shorebirds. In most cases, the kinds of successional changes (or changes
caused
> by restoration plantings) that Carol writes about are not benficial to
many
> waterfowl species. Diving ducks may still be attracted to ponds where the
> shallow margins have been taken over by tall emergent or woody vegetation
but
> sparsely vegetated shallows are better for dabblers.
>
> There are many species, salmon not among them, that benefit from open,
sun-
> exposed waters. I think first of the pond-breeding amphibians and turtles.
> Enrichment, as supplied by cows, can increase algae and zooplankton,
leading
> to a rich food base for vertebrates like waterfowl and salamander larvae.
Too
> much enrichment can lead to elevated levels of harmful compounds like
nitrates,
> as well as an oxygen depleted environment but, in appropriate doses, the
> enrichment can be positive for the aquatic community.
>
> There's no doubt that there are a multitude of kinds of wildlife habitat
and one
> critter's habitat destruction is another critter's habitat enhancement.
>
> Kelly McAllister
> Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
> Olympia, Washington
> Reply to: mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov
>
>