Observation #8

At 8:30 on May 29, 2008, I did my final recorded observation. The weather was perfect with blue skies, no wind, and a heat of 49 degrees F. Walking through the grass i noticed the soil was still wet from previous rain. As the sun set deep into the mountains, just one of the many biotic factors, frogs, started to sound from all directions. The peaceful environment was disturbed when two male Red-winged Blackbirds started to compete. They were probably both after the same female. The symbiotic relationship between the frogs and the cattails is probably one of the most major additions to the pond. The cattails give the frogs/tadpoles shelter. When birds like eagles, osprey, and hawks are looking for food, one anti-predator adaptation of the frog comes in handy. Its earthy green, gray, brown, and tan colors make camouflaging into its surrounding very easy. The food web of the pond goes from vegetation like willows, cattails, and grass then it moves to small organisms like mice and smaller birds. After that, it moves to larger birds like hawks, eagles, and osprey. Because this pond is not far from my house I will probably continue to see it. But next time I do, i will look at it in a different way trying to see the growth it has gone through.