On Monday May 4th, 6:30 pm the Belfast Free Library in collaboration with Friends of Sears Island will host a virtual presentation about vernal pools with Dr. Amanda Cross from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The program will be offered live via Zoom. If you would like to join please email bharrington@belfastlibrary.org to receive the link and password, which will be sent the day before the program.

While many things have changed this spring, the dependable calls of the wood frog and spring peeper have started once again. While we cannot visit vernal pools together in person this year, please join us for a virtual exploration of these remarkable ecosystems, the unique animals that live there, and simple techniques for exploring pools safely on your own.

Dr. Amanda Cross is a wildlife biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife with 15 years’ experience studying and teaching vernal pool ecology across Maine. She lives close to several vernal pools in Harpswell, where she and her family enjoy catching frogs, counting egg masses, and mimicking amphibian calls.