To understand how conservationists conduct surveys and to know amphibians through practical observation, we discussed and planned a night observation activity with the teacher. The location was at Zhishan Yan near the school. Prior to the outing, we organized into groups and assigned tasks and items to bring with. Some recorded audio, some documented the process, and some took photos.

On the day of the event, November 18, 2023, the weather was dry and cold. In the evening, everyone gathered on the street by McDonald's near the school, carrying flashlights and backpacks. After everyone showed up, we cheerfully set off on the journey to Zhishan Yan. The journey wasn't long, and we quickly reached our destination. We rendezvoused with Teacher Cheng-En Li next to the archaeological classroom at Zhishan Yan. Teacher Li provided detailed instructions on how to observe and record, emphasizing the importance of collecting environmental data before conducting the survey to plan the route. We had to note the weather condition, habitat characteristics, and observed animals on the recording sheet. The columns on the recording sheet were clearly divided into various weather factors and frog morphologies. What surprised us most was that "carcasses" were also considered a type of animal behavior! Additionally, the classification of heavy rain and light rain was interesting. If an umbrella was needed, it would be classified as heavy rain. On the contrary, it would be considered as light rain. After seeing the form, we were eager to give it a try.

Zhishan Yan has cultivated land including ponds, forests, and nearby trails. We first surveyed the nearby ponds and plants. It's said that amphibians are often easily found on taro stems or in tree branches and leaf litter. Teacher Li quickly found a Central Formosan toad, which appeared to be struggling and kicking its legs as if alarmed. Teacher Li introduced the external features of the toad to us and told us that male toads have nuptial pads on their forelimbs, which they use to grip females during amplexus. We observed with curiosity and took photos before slowly climbing up along the trail, diligently using flashlights to search for small animals. However, perhaps due to the dry and cold air, we didn't spot any other amphibians besides the Central Formosan toad we found near the pond earlier. Nevertheless, although we didn't see any frogs, we had some unexpected discoveries. We found a millipede on a tree trunk, which had bright colors and many legs. We also spotted a Bowring's gecko on a stone pillar. The gecko resembled the common house gecko, but by zooming in with our phones to take photos, we noticed it had two rows of scales on its toes, which was quite unique.

This nocturnal observation activity was a very interesting and unique experience. It made us realize that observing amphibians requires the right timing, location, and preparation! Weather, location, and prior planning are all crucial. We gained an appreciation for the hard work of conservationists during the survey process. Thanks to their efforts, a wealth of data is accumulated, allowing everyone to understand the current ecological situation in Taiwan.