Charles and Bob discuss vernal pools. Bob has always been intrigued by vernal pools and with time at home due to the pandemic he decided to build one in his backyard. Learn about his first aquatic visitor the water strider. Also learn about an amazing creature that lives in a vernal pool at Cincinnati Nature Center. If you have not seen fairy shrimp be sure to check them out. Charles explains what they look like and why they are found in vernal pools.
Related episodes: The Nature of Oaks with Doug Tallamy, Dragonflies, Damselflies and Wood Frogs Quack It Up
Our sources for this episode include:
- Vernal Pool Chronicles: a YouTube channel about vernal pools with some fantastic footage
- Colburn et al., 2007: Diversity and ecology of vernal pool invertebrates (Chapter from: Science and Conservation of Vernal Pools in Northeastern North America)
- U.S. EPA informational page – Vernal pools
Thank you. Wonderful vernal pool podcast Ned and I are listening to driving to Cape May today, we are digging a vernal pool at our pond in Adams County, any advice pointing us to a how -to
Podcast on that would be welcome,
Glad to hear you are doing a vernal pool in Adams County. How to do it is probably a bit too specific for the podcast but if you get stuck check with John Howard.
I was racking my brain to add a water feature to my property. That was the only thing I did not have. As I built out my native plant ecosystem, I felt like the whole thing was half-baked without water. It was pond, pond, pond in my mind. Trying to wrap my head around that was depressing me. I did not have a low spot that I thought would hold water. I cringed at the thought of using a liner. I was about to give up when I heard your episode on vernal pools. I thought that was fascinating. As I researched this, I found an expert named Tom Biebighauser and reached out to him. He helped me figure out I had the perfect spot for this. I am hiring him to help me build this, and I’ve never been more excited for something in my life. I can barely sleep thinking of the wildlife and ecosystem value this will bring to my yard. The native insects will have a water source, and butterflies can puddle; the rare amphibians can breed there, and I will have fairy shrimp!! I still have many of your shows to listen to. It’s a game-changer and has given me such hope. Now, it’s a perfect water feature! I owe you guys a million thank-yous. I may not have figure this out without your show. You are my favorite podcast and the best nature podcast there is!! You have the best topics and the best people on with you. I get so excited when I see a new episode come up in my feed. 🙂
I am excited to hear that you are going to do a vernal pool! It is the best thing we have done on our property. Let me know how it goes! Thanks for the encouraging words about Nature Guys! It means a tremendous amount to everyone who makes this podcast happen.