Every spring, when the ground has thawed, the rain has started, and nighttime temperatures maintain above freezing, frogs and salamanders begin their migration to their breeding grounds called vernal pools.
In Maine, these migrations usually occur in April. If a night happens to be in the realm of 45°F or higher, the odds of a true “big night” happening are high—these nights are where immense numbers of migrating amphibians move simultaneously. In the matter of a few hours, you may see dozens, even hundreds, of migrating amphibians at the right time at the right place.
Maine’s Amphibian Migration Monitoring Project
Maine Big Night—Amphibian Migration Monitoring (MBN) was created as a direct result of observing the impacts roads are having on amphibian populations.
Often, amphibians have to cross roads in order to reach their breeding habitat. Being so small and traveling at night in poor weather, amphibians are extraordinarily hard to see; mortality rates on roads can approach 100% in areas with high traffic. Because of this, amphibians may be decreasing significantly in some areas.
The project seeks to identify important crossing sites by recruiting volunteers to collect data while directly relieving pressure from road mortality. In a world with increasingly fragmented habitat, decreasing amphibian populations, and changing climates, finding these migration routes will only become more important every year.
Project Overview
The goals of Maine Big Night are as follows:
1. Identify significant and vulnerable migration routes for amphibians throughout the state of Maine.
2. Provide direct relief of road mortality to local amphibian populations.
3. Provide an opportunity for Maine citizens to participate in wildlife conservation and natural sciences.
Who gets to participate?
Anybody who completes the required material is welcome! Participants must be able to operate safely in a roadway—this is essential for maintaining a safe project.
What would do I do?
As an MBN volunteer scientist, you will be responsible for helping save amphibian lives while collecting important data. You will be able to head out into the field on your own (or preferably with friends/family!) to have your own adventure in wildlife conservation science.
Where does the project take place?
The project takes place throughout the state of Maine at select sites. More sites are added every year; as of the start of 2021, there are 286 different sites throughout the state. Note that there are few sites in Washington County – if you have found a site that you think should be monitored, it can be added to the site register by contacting Greg LeClair (Gregory.leclair@maine.edu).
When does the project take place?
You can participate in the project anytime between April 1st and April 30th. You are welcome to prepare beforehand at any time. During the project period, you can collect data anytime between sunset and sunrise.
How to Participate
In order to participate in Maine Big Night, you must complete the following three steps:
1. Complete the training and pass the associated quiz with an 80% or better.
2. Sign the safety/liability waiver.
3. Sign up for a site, or multiple sites, that you’d like to survey.
The project manual covers the necessary materials needed to become a certified volunteer scientist for Maine Big Night. The manual also covers the identification of common and uncommon amphibians of Big Night.
When is the next training?
While you do not need to attend a live training session (just review the training manual and pass the associated quiz), you can watch a previously recorded training session here to help you get certified.
This year, DCC has been selected as one of the host sites around the state able to host materials to help volunteers get started in the field. You can sign out high visibility vests, headlamps, clipboards, data sheets, and ID cards to get you out in the field for free. All items must be returned within a month of season end (by May 30th).
If you would like to sign out materials from DCC, please contact the Cathy Lookabaugh, DCC’s Outreach Director, at cathy@downeastcoastalconservancy.org. Materials can only be signed out to certified volunteers; however, a certified volunteer is welcome to sign out extra materials to supply friends and family that will be joining them in the field. Items are first come, first serve.
If you are interested in joining a Big Night Outing led by DCC’s Outreach Director Cathy, please email her at cathy@downeatcoastalconservancy.org and indicate that you would be interested in an outing. Outings would be weather dependent – when the conditions are ideal for the amphibians to move! Group outings and group size will also be dependent on COVID restrictions.