One of the great things about observing the natural world is that you feel like a kid when you see something truly unexpected. That is how I felt today while observing Pickerel Frogs.
Hearing and seeing the frogs was impressive. But, much to my surprise, something else was lurking in the shallows of the marsh. Among the reeds, I saw scaly bodies moving and splashing. Then I realized these were Northern Pike. Were they spawning? Were they feeding on frogs? Were they warming themselves in the shallow water?
Regardless of the answer, my observation is a reminder that many species rely on these marshes in ways we don’t realize. Here is a glimpse of the fish I saw this afternoon.
