Salamander Egg Update and an Eastern Newt

We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things. ~Charlotte Mason, Volume 1~

This week we continued to observe our salamander eggs. The kids noticed that the larvae have changed shape and are developing tails. Some of the eggs have a bit of harmless green algae growing on them.

We also found an Eastern Newt in its adult aquatic form. The children learned that this species of salamander exists first in an aquatic larval form, second as a land dwelling red eft, and after 1-3 years of living on land it returns to the water in its final adult form.

We were able to keep it in water and observe it overnight. The children released it back into the pond after drawing it in their nature journals.