Pond Studies 201 on Earth Day

Daisy showing off climbing a tree.
Buster was surveying his pond.

I think it fitting to examine the water on Earth Day!

Yes, Pond Study '201', because I studied the pond last year. I was given a macro lens from the best husband ever, last year. I managed to capture water beetles, water striders, up close. Right now tree frogs and wood frogs are singing (wood frogs in the water and tree frogs up high, and pretty shy right now), and I've photographed all the typical creatures one expects in a pond. This year I found more little creatures to photograph.

And I improved my technique.

I scooped critters into a goldfish bowl.
Daisy thought it a drinking bowl.

Anyone can photograph an elephant, but these little suckers are tricky!

The other issue, I had 'helpers' who wanted to drink the water from my goldfish bowl where I placed my critters. Daisy, little twerper!

My frog pond- newly melted

There are water beetles, water striders, many spiders, and tree frogs and wood frogs, so far.
 It teems with life, our ponds.
 I am privileged to be living in Ontario.

weird little egg sacs, tree frog eggs!

everything is brown

spider in the pond

Daisy couldn't figure out why
I was out in the pond!
I was wearing boots.

My precious frog pond

The logs, where I sit and contemplate life!
Buster in the shade of the tree.
Daisy at the base of the tree.

tree frog eggs

I scooped some water and leaves into a goldfish bowl

fairy shrimp

Bad news: mosquito larvae!

They glue them to flora

tree frog eggs

cyclops, subclass copepoda

cyclops, copepoda

I scooped them into a tablespoon!

I love these little creatures: amphipod,
AKA: freshwater fairy shrimp.

water slaters or water-lice

water slaters or water-lice

More pond life - another mystery solved: amphipod

I love these little creatures: amphipod, AKA: freshwater fairy shrimp.
I was fascinated. It took me a bit of time. I picked up some bottles, and brought the water up to the deck to photograph it.


According to Wikipedia:
Mature females bear a marsupium, or brood pouch, which holds her eggs while they are fertilised, and until the young are ready to hatch. As a female ages, she produces more eggs in each brood. Mortality is around 25%–50% for the eggs. There are no larval stages; the eggs hatch directly into a juvenile form, and sexual maturity is generally reached after 6 moults. Some species have been known to eat their own exuviae after moulting.








Then there is the mosquito larvae... the spring peepers are peeping again, they've been asleep since March 23rd or so. This is a sure sign they'll be popping out soon.