We completely forgot to tell you about the "cusk eels" in the Great Salt Pond on Block Island. When dusk begins to fall, there is a sound that almost sounds like a woodpecker. One will sound, then another will answer. We figured since we were sitting in the middle of the water it was probably not a woodpecker. We had to do some research and Greg finally found a reference to it (what in the world did we do before google?!)
This is a water critter that apparently does its mating call after sunset (and ALL through the night!) The strange part is that we are above the water, they are below the water and we can hear them. What other critter is like that?
Actually, though its name includes eel, it is actually a fish. Here is a link to a great article from Points East magazine and a sound clip so you can hear what it sounds like.
Click here for article in Points East
Click here for SOUND of a cusk eel
That is your science lesson for today! :)
- Greg Page and Sharon Buehrle
- Traveling the oceans and waterways from Maine to Cuba, NE USA
