May 16-21

Wednesday, May 16:

- Scouted out Mahogany after arriving at Eagle Lake in the afternoon. Saw 13 bald eagles circling overhead! At least three were adults, the rest appeared to be juveniles.

- Saw a possible mating ball--a large group of male and female T.elegans were concentrated in a deep grassy area.

- Found a dead T.sirtalis half-emerged from a rock. Cause of death unclear--several maggot holes.

- The road up to Mahogany was completely dry and passable (in contrast to the extreme muddiness and impassibility of last year). This is apparently a really dry year--Tom Rickman at the USFS said they had something like 30% less precipitation than average.


Thursday, May 17:

- Visited Nameless in the afternoon. It is completely dry. We saw no snakes. It might have been too hot, so we will try again in the morning some time. But it doesn't look promising out there for tadpoles.

- Schools of minnows at Pikes.

- Found a dead gravid female--appeared to have a smashed head. Someone may have stepped on her.

- Went to a meeting of the Lassen County Fish and Game Commission at Spalding. The new fisheries biologist for the department of fish and game gave a talk on the status of Eagle Lake water quality and trout fishing. Eagle Lake water levels are continuing to go down, and pH levels are continuing to rise. They are advocating a "catch and keep" policy--since fish damaged from capture are unlikely to be able to survive in these conditions. However, the Eagle Lake trout appear to be getting bigger and bigger every year--likely a direct result of their selection of eggs from the biggest fish. Apparently the pelicans are almost missing this year--only a few hanging around (usually they mob the Marina when the trout from the hatcheries are deposited in the lake).


Friday, May 18:

-Saw a mating ball at the Marina--one female with two males stretched out alongside.



Saturday, May 19:

- Papoose has plenty of water! Minnows in the springs. Sandhill cranes courtship calling?

- Found a Wilson's snipe nest in the grass near Spring A.




- Went to Roney and saw both adult Hyla and abundant tadpoles.

- Karen, Aspen Camp Host, let us set up a little Biological Station in a shade tent, equipped with one of her boat batteries. This is our blood processing center, complete with rain tarp.




Sunday, May 20:


- Jeremy found a beautiful black T.elegans with a blue belly at Gallatin.



Monday, May 21:

- Jeremy & Karen. Karen has given us everything we could possibly need in terms of research "equipment" as well as plenty of good company. Jeremy is this May's enthusiastic snake catcher, temperature taker, weigher, and all-around terrific assistant.