CarMaxwell

I've heard them called Widow's Tears.

Thank you so much! I had no idea where to start!

http://www.springerlink.com/content/kbp1...
Orientation toward breeding ponds plays an important role in the seasonal movements of amphibians. In this study, adult marbled newts were tested in a circular arena to determine sensory cues used to locate breeding ponds. Animals were collected from a temporary pond situated in northern Spain, taken to the experimental site 340 m distant, and tested for orientation under a variety of conditions (i.e., orientation under a clear night sky, orientation under an overcast night sky, and orientation under a clear night sky in the presence of an altered geomagnetic field). These investigations have demonstrated that the marbled newt is able to orient using celestial cues. Animals chose a compass course in the direction of their breeding pond only when celestial cues were available. Conversely, the ambient geomagnetic field does not seem to be relevant to orientation of marbled newts since they were unable to orient themselves using the ambient geomagnetic field in the absence of celestial cues.
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They have a unique call which is how I usually know they are around.

My granddaughter and nieces were "talking to them" copying them by shrieking and they'd run around crazy cause they thought it was a predator warning! Cute little buggers! The Rock Chucks, not the little kids, oh heck, they're cute little buggers too!

By the way, my parents were from Iowa and went to college in Iowa City long ago. My dad from Montrose, mom from Des Moines.

Hey! It does look a little like a cheeto! I'll save the next one for you cause I'm scared to taste it! Specially with all the flies on it!

try turning it upside down to see if it looks more like a face.

Yes, can't seem to grow them in Houston. We used to have them in Long Beach, California growing as a bush. Called them ballerinas.

Thank you,
Snuck up on 'im!