I’m Newt Here
“The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house all that cold, cold, wet day.”
So says you, Dr. Seuss, this is an adventure family.
At only a few months old, Gavin might not be ready for a walk in the rain quite yet, but we hope he becomes a curious kid, motivated to explore his environment, and willing to take a few calculated risks. And the evidence shows that kids who regularly experience nature reap immense benefits in all its sunny, wet, muddy, seasonal glory.
I can’t stop thinking about all the natural wonders we can introduce him to as he grows up, and as it happens, the rain brings out a fascinating example: Newts!
Three species of newt call the Bay Area home, but the two I’ve had regular success finding in the streams that feed a nearby lake are California and rough-skinned newts.
Each species has a life cycle with terrestrial and aquatic stages. They spend a lot of time hiding under rocks or logs, but when the rain arrives, it’s their signal to emerge. They move slowly and deliberately to the water, where these adorable amphibians mate, and their larvae can develop.
With droughts, wildfires, and heat waves, newts have a tough road ahead of them, but the good news is that those who survive their environmental strains can live for a few decades.
If you’re interested in photographing newts underwater, the technique I’ve used is a GoPro on a selfie stick with a macro lens. Submerge it slowly and wait until the ripples have smoothed before easing it closer. Avoid passing a shadow over the newt in case the change in the light disturbs them, and try a burst of ten images on a timer to increase your odds of a sharp focus.
And as for Gavin, we’ll be out looking for newts together as soon as he fits his rain boots.
Notes:
How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature by Scott D. Sampson
Wilds of the United States: The Animals’ Survival Field Guide by Alexander Vidal
In a Changing World, a Biologist Documents the Newt Normal by Emily Sohn and Anton Sorokin
