The Amphibian Foundation's Frog Blog

The Atlanta Science Festival each March is an amazing event engaging Atlantans of all ages in the wonders of science — and in the advancements in science happening right here in our beloved city. With over 100 events occurring during two weeks, this year the Amphibian Foundation produced 6 of them (i.e. 6% of the Atlanta Science Festival events were about amphibians and reptiles!). We love working with the Atlanta Science Festival and other area partners to engage people and also to support science — which as a discipline has been under attack for the last few years. First was our behind the scenes tour: Not Just Newts Amanda and Anthony in the lobby of the Amphibian Foundation ready for the 200 registrants to arrive! Tess, and AF Volunteer showing of a captive bred Lemur Leaf Frog ( Agalychnis lemur ) to visitors in the Amphibian Lab. Then, we had our annual Salamander Stroll at the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve in Decatur. As in each year — we found tons of...

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 wa...

Come out to @kavarnadecatur and support amphibian conservation! #ScientificIllustration #AmphibianConservation #flatwoods #FlatwoodsSalamander I illustrated this amazing species in #Photoshop

There is still a lot of amazing artwork still for sale - originals and prints, like this incredible illustration of the #CriticallyEndangered Black-eyed Leaf Frog, Agalychnis moreletii painted by Henry Adams @henryca23 I will be there from 4 - 6pm on Sunday if you are interested in purchasing artwork, or picking up the artwork purchased at the opening. A portion of the proceeds benefit Amphibian Conservation! If you have questions, or are interested in placing an order over the phone, please call/text me at 678 379 TOAD (8623) or email me theRibbitExhibit@gmail.com

I had a wonderful time talking about scientific illustration today. The illustration workshop was a lot of fun, and some great work was done by the audience from specimens (alcoholic and skeletal) ... We also brought in a few live critters to draw from. Kavarna is a wonderful place for scientific engagement. The Amphibian exhibition of illustrations will be open for one more week, so please stop by if you would like to see the impressive collection of illustrations, pottery and photography. Anthony and 'Blinkie' the Breaded Dragon were both hits. Illustration can be very exciting when you are working from live specimens! A great Argentine Horned Frog drawn from markers Tim drew the skull and dorsal plate of an Argentine Horned Frog, Ceratophrys ornata Alison drew from the skull of an African Bullfrog, Pyxicephalus adspersus Aaron, one of the wonderful ASF volunteers (photo by Marc Merlin) It was a very interactive event! (photo by Marc ...