Reptiles, sawdust, amphibians

ORRINGTON – Visitors to the Fields Pond Audubon Center found many reptiles and amphibians during this week of beautiful warm October weather.

A school group was on a “Secrets of the Forest” tour and had stopped at a wonderfully hollowed out cedar tree. This is a favorite stopping place because a large nesting cavity is just at eye level for the average third-grader. The hole is full of beautiful soft sawdust left behind by carpenter ants. Children love to imagine what might be using this delightful forest home.

On this particular day we heard shouts of “Look at the snake!” “It’s a snake!” Inside the hole was a small, but beautifully colored milk snake. Big around as a pencil, a foot long, the snake stood out in the darkness of the hole with bands of reddish brown alternating with bright white stripes. The little snake began to move and traveled vertically up one side of the hole and disappeared into a space above. The children watched in awe.

They were still talking about the milk snake when they came upon another snake basking in the sun on the path. This snake was much duller in color, being a solid brown. If you were to pick this one up and look at the underside, it would have shown a beautiful bright salmon color on the belly, being a “red-bellied snake.” This was a large group of children on the walk, so they were encouraged just to look and watch as the little snake gracefully slid off the path and disappeared into the grass.

On a “Secrets of the Forest” walk, children are encouraged to climb through an enormous hollow log. They love to experience life in a hollow tree the way some birds and animals live.

When Rachael, a third-grader from Orrington, discovered a perfectly camouflaged little tree frog, her classmates were instantly excited. She showed everyone how the tree frog has suction cup toes to help it climb trees. Children also marveled at its gray coloration that helps it blend in beautifully with the wood. This gray tree frog might want to find a slightly less traveled spot for its winter hibernation!

Send sightings, comments or questions to fieldspond@maineaudubon.org