Join us on for this Learning with the Land event as we visit a vernal pool to look for indications of breeding by amphibians and invertebrates that are specially adapted to the unique conditions of these seasonal wetlands.

On Saturday, April 10th from 9:00 – 11:00 am, join Kestrel and distinguished biology professor Steve Tilley to explore the fascinating life cycles that take place in these unique spring features of our forests. We will visit a vernal pool along a wooded trail at MacLeish Field Station in Whately.

Steve Tilley is Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences at Smith College. He has done research on the salamander diversity of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, including the discovery and naming of four new species.

The 190-acre MacLeish Field Station, owned by Smith College, is part of a critical contiguous block of forest identified by the Nature Conservancy as a “resilient” landscape: an area that has the potential to support a wide diversity of plants and wildlife as they adapt to climate change in the future. Since 2013, Kestrel has held the conservation restriction on it.

Space is limited to 15 participants. The program is free but registration is required.

Masks will be required and social-distancing from others outside your household is expected. (There is no rain date for this event.)

This event is full. To be added to the wait list, contact marilyn@kestreltrust.org