#AtlSciFest Amphibian Walk @ Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve!

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As part of the Atlanta Science Festival, the Amphibian Foundation and Blue Heron Nature Preserve put on an Amphibian Walk at CSNP in Decatur. This is one of our favorite amphibian spots in the metro area and we weren't disappointed!

It rained that morning so turnout was actually pretty light, but that made it a more intimate event — AtlSciFest Volunteers including Photographer Craig Colsky and the foundation head out and found lots and lots of amphibians. (Photos by Craig Colsky)

Mark Mandica, Executive Director of The Amphibian Foundation stands next to an ambitious list of amphibians we were hoping to see on our amphibian walk.

Mark explaining the dynamics of an ephemeral wetland

A Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) egg mass

Crystal Mandica, Co-founder of The Amphibian Foundation holding a Spotted Salamander egg mass
Southern Red-back Salamander, Plethodon serratus


Daylin was very curious, but didn't want to get too close

Kathy was a wonderful Atlanta Science Festival volunteer, who seemed to enjoy learning about salamanders
Plethodon grobmani, the Slimy Salamander, was probably the most frequently encountered species that day.

A wonderful close-up of a Slimy Salamander

Suzette and Daylin were great and we all had a wonderful time!

Hiking towards the back of the nature preserve

Crystal found more salamanders than anybody that day — it's like she can smell them!
The crew of the #AtlSciFest Amphibian Walk: Kathy, Crystal, David, Daylin, Suzetta and Linda

Crystal looking of the Beaver-impacted ephemeral wetland

Another shot of the team., this time with Mark as well.

Daylin's first time seeing salamander eggs

As Mark is showing here — We did pretty good! We didn't see everything on our list, but found some animals not even on it!

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