FARMINGTON — Western Maine Audubon plans to sponsor a talk, “Maine Big Night: Amphibian Migration Monitoring,” by Greg LeClair.

The talk is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, in Thomas Auditorium, Preble Hall at 173 High St. on the University of Maine at Farmington campus. It is free and open to the general public.

April showers bring more than just May flowers to Maine — they also bring the massive annual breeding migration of amphibians throughout the state colloquially known as “big nights,” according to  a news release from Will Jones, board member with Western Maine Audubon.

As many of these amphibians plod and hop through the landscape, they face difficult obstacles towards reaching their breeding locations. While natural barriers (rivers, mountains, etc.) and predators are risks that wood frogs and spotted salamanders have calculated into their migratory plans, many have not had time to adjust to the newest and perhaps most deadly risk during these migrations — roads.

This persistent and increasing threat is what inspired the creation of Maine Big Night: Amphibian Migration Monitoring. MBN is a community science project that harnesses the energy of community members throughout the state to accomplish two major tasks: recording data on amphibian crossings and assisting creatures across roads to directly reduce mortality.

The talk will be recorded and can be viewed at western.maineaudubon.org within a few weeks after the talk is given.

 

Check out other upcoming area events!

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