Wetland Wander Dec 12th at Meadowlark Prairie

Wetland Wander at Meadowlark Prairie
Tuesday, December 12th
9:00am-11:00am
Meadowlark Prairie Overlook Site

Join Diane Steek, City of Eugene Wetland Ecologist, for a wander along the Fern Ridge Path. This is a great time of year to see numerous bird species as the seasonal ponds are reforming and large flocks are passing through.

Participants are asked to meet at the Meadowlark Prairie Overlook located at 88525 Greenhill Road, south of the intersection with Royal Avenue. There is plenty of parking, but since it's right on the bike path, biking is a great option as well.

Wetland Wanders are casual walks through the West Eugene Wetlands. Walks are free and open to the public. Bring water and appropriate layers, WREN will provide binoculars.

Join WREN on Tuesday November 14th at 9:00 as we explore the Hansen/ See-Sil property with Sally Villegas-Moore. Sally is the BLM's West Eugene Wetlands Natural resource specialist and will guide our wander and will touch on land management through control burns as well as other interesting facts relating to the property . Wetland Wanders are casual walks through the West Eugene Wetlands. The walks are FREE and open to the public. We suggest to bring water and appropriate layers. WREN will provide binoculars for anyone interested. If you have any further questions don't hesitate to call or email!

Hansen/See-Sil: Directions: Take Royal Avenue West to the ODFW parking lot at Fern Ridge Reservior. If you have an ODFW permit you may park in the lot, otherwise, park along Royal Avenue. The site is on the north side of Royal, to the east of the house near the end of the road; look for the gate with BLM signage, and WREN staff.

*depending on rain, this walk can be a bit muddy, so bring boots as you see fit.

For more information: 

call 541-338-7047 

email info@wewetlands.org

Play in the Rain Day!

10th Annual Play in the Rain Day!

Saturday, November 11th 10am-3pm

At Mount Pisgah Arboretum

Join WREN and other members of the Youth In Nature Partnership for our 10th Annual Play in the Rain Day! Play in the Rain Day is a free community event for families of all ages to play outdoors, rain or shine, and connect with nature! 

Activities Include:
Tree Climbing, Archery, Camfire Cookery, Nature Exploration / Hikes, Nature Crafts, Backcountry Horse Demos, Hayrides, Scavenger Hunts, Smokey Bear, FREE Parking courtesy of Lane County Parks.

We hope to see you there!

For more information: 

call 541-338-7047 

email info@wewetlands.org

Wetland Wander

Wetland Wander at Willow Creek

Willow Creek Natural Area, managed by the Nature Conservancy, spans over 500 acres of native wet and upland prairie. The land provides essential habitat for a number of threatened and endangered species, particularly the Fender's blue butterfly.  Though it's too late in the season to see butterflies, there is still plenty of wild beauty to behold! Join mammal expert David Walp as we wander our way through Willow Creek and take in the turning of the seasons.

Directions: In West Eugene. Park and meet in the turnouts on W. 18th Ave, west of Bertelsen

WREN Wanders are casual walks through various West Eugene Wetlands sites each second Tuesday of every month. These exciting opportunities are FREE to the public and provide observation, education and inspiration in our surrounding natural spaces. WREN staff and volunteers will guide this walk. WREN will provide binoculars. 

For more information: 

call 541-338-7047 

email info@wewetlands.org

Family Exploration Day 

Saturday, October 7th

10am-2pm at Tsanchiifin Trail

Join WREN for our last Family Exploration Day of the year.  Enjoy the turning of the seasons and the crispness of the air as you explore the wetlands as a family.

Discover the West Eugene Wetlands with your family in a day of unstructured, independent exploration!

We provide a backpack of binoculars, field guides, bug net, hand lens, and bug boxes, you bring your curiosity and sense of adventure! Drop by anytime between 10am-2pm to check out your pack. WREN staff will be on hand to answer your questions. You can complete the wetland scavenger hunt or just explore on your own, it's up to you!

Directions: The Family Exploration Day will take place at the West Eugene Wetlands Partnership office: 751 S. Danebo Ave. (We're the red house on the hill!)

This event is FREE and families are encouraged!

Questions?

Contact Us: 541-338-7047 

info@wewetlands.org

National Public Lands Day

Join us for National Public Lands Day!   

  Stewart Pond Park & Disc Golf Course   

Saturday, September 30th 9am-12pm

 Directions: From West 11th Ave, turn north onto Bertelsen Road. Turn right onto Stewart Road, follow until end and park in gravel parking lot. 3853-4099 Stewart Rd, Eugene, OR 97402

This year, we are excited to be partnering once again with the Bureau of Land Management to host National Public Lands Day (NPLD) in Eugene! NPLD aims to get people connected with the public lands in their community and is one of the largest single-day volunteer efforts in the nation. We will be hosting NPLD in Eugene at the Stewart Pond Disc Golf Course (on Stewart Rd. East of Bertelsen Rd.) from 9am-noon on Saturday, September 30th. 


Join people nation-wide as we work to better the land that we all share!

 This is a FREE volunteer event to give back to our public lands and the community by helping remove invasive plants, pick up trash, maintain trails and more. Bring your co-workers, families and friends for a great morning of giving back and connecting with community!

Participants will receive a free t-shirt, parks pass and delicious local refreshments as well as opportunities to win prizes! 

We hope to see you there!

For more information: 

call 541-338-7047 

email info@wewetlands.org

Wetland Wander

Tuesday, September 12th

9am-11am 

Golden Gardens Park

Though summer may be coming to a slow close, the wildlife and sunshine are still out in all their wild glory!

Join WREN for our monthly Wetland Wander at Golden Gardens this month!

Golden Gardens Park provides year-round water and protected habitat for the western pond turtle, and they are often spotted sunning on logs in its ponds as well as dragonflies and birds aplenty.

Directions to Golden Gardens Park: From Hwy 99, west on Barger, Right on Golden Gardens Street. Meet at the intersection of Golden Gardens Street and Jessen Drive.

WREN Wanders are casual walks through various West Eugene Wetlands sites each second Tuesday of every month. These exciting opportunities are FREE to the public and provide observation, education and inspiration in our surrounding natural spaces. WREN staff and volunteers will guide this walk. WREN will provide binoculars. 

For more information: 

call 541-338-7047 

email info@wewetlands.org

Family Exploration Day

Saturday, September 2nd 

10am- 2pm

@ Meadowlark Prairie

The summer is almost over and school will be starting soon. What better way to enjoy your last bits of summer than a fun-filled family adventure out in the West Eugene wetlands?

Discover the West Eugene Wetlands with your family in a day of unstructured, independent exploration!

We provide a backpack of binoculars, field guides, bug net, hand magnifier, and bug boxes, you bring your curiosity and sense of adventure! Drop by anytime between 10am and 2pm to check out your pack. WREN staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions. You can complete the wetland scavenger hunt or just explore on your own, it is up to you!

This event is FREE and families are encouraged!

Questions?

Contact Us: 541-338-7047 

info@wewetlands.org

Nutria

Nutria in the Wetlands 

  

There are many reptiles, amphibians and mammals that live in our Eugene wetlands. In the 1930’s, Nutria were introduced to Oregon because they were a quick and easy way for farmers to make money in the fur trade. However, the fur trade did not last long and died out in the 1940’s. When the fur trade collapsed the nutria were released and the population quickly spread throughout western Oregon.

Nutria are commonly mistaken for a beaver. Although they have some similarities, they are also very different. Nutria’s are smaller animals with a thin, pointed tail. Their fur ranges from yellowish to dark brown, they have prominent orange incisors and are about two feet long. Their eyes, noses and ears are set high on their head and they can adapt easily to different habitats.

Nutria are an invasive species and they have become a problem in the wetlands. Numerous methods have been used to try and control the growing population but there has not been a solution yet. The Institute for Applied Ecology has a cookbook that offers recipe for invasive species including the nutria. To find out more about the cookbook, check out this website: https://appliedeco.org/product/theyre-cooked-recipes-to-combat-invasive-species/

On August 8th, we will be having our monthly wetland wander and this month will be focused on mammals found in the wetlands, such as the nutria. Join WREN at Wild Iris Ridge at 9am to learn more.

Family Exploration Day 

Saturday, August 5th

10am-2pm

@ Golden Gardens

The sun is shining, children are out of school, and hopefully work is allowing time for some summer family fun! What better way to enjoy a Saturday then to have the Family come explore our beautiful wetlands!  



Join WREN for unstructured, independent exploration of the wetlands! We provide a backpack of binoculars, field guides, bug net, hand magnifier, and bug boxes, you bring your curiosity and sense of adventure! Drop by anytime between 10am and 2pm to check out your backpack. WREN staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions. This event is FREE and families are encouraged! 

Directions to Golden Garden can be found

 on our Facebook page @WRENintheWEW

Crab Spider

Crab Spider

Have you ever seen a spider that resembles a crab? This spider was found on our June Wetland Wander and was a fun sight to see! 

Similar to a crab, most of these spiders move sideways using their hind legs. Additionally, they have two strong front legs that are used to catch prey. Unlike other spiders, crab spiders do not spin webs to catch their prey. Instead, they use camouflage  to wait for their prey and then attack with a venomous bite! Their venom is potent enough to injure large insects but is not dangerous to humans. 

The Crab Spider on our walk was camouflaged into a wildflower waiting for its prey. They generally are good at not being seen so this was an awesome sight to see! 

Find out more about other animals and plants that inhabit our Eugene Wetlands at our next Wetland Wander in August!   

July Wetland Wander

Tuesday, July 11th
9am-11am
Hansen/See-Sil

Summer is here and the birds are singing along! Grab your binoculars and join WREN for our next Wetland Wander at Hansen/See-sill! We will be exploring the wetlands and looking for all the incredible birds that live there. This wander will be lead by Dave Bontrager, a bird specialist.

Directions: Take Royal Avenue West to the ODFW parking lot at Fern Ridge Reservoir. If you have an ODFW permit you may park in the lot, otherwise, park along Royal Avenue. The site is on the north side of the Royal, to the east of the house near the end of the road; look for the gate with BLM signage, and WREN staff.

Wetland Wanders are casual walks through the West Eugene Wetlands. The walks are FREE and open to the public. We suggest to bring water and appropriate layers. WREN will provide binoculars for anyone interested. 

For more information:

Call: 541-338-7047

Email: info@wewetlands.org

Summer Solstice, June 20th 2017

What is summer solstice? When is summer solstice? 

  

Well, the summer solstice is just around the corner on June 20th! The summer solstice is the longest day of sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere and marks the first day of summer. On the contrary, in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the winter solstice in June and the shortest day of the year. The June solstice occurs when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer while the winter solstice occurs in December when the sun is directly above Tropic of Capricorn.

The word solstice comes from the Latin words sol, meaning sun and sistere, meaning to come to a stop or stand still. On the June Solstice day, the sun reaches its northernmost position as seen on Earth. At this moment, it’s zenith does not move and stands still at the Tropic of Cancer. Many people think that the Earth is the closest to this sun on the summer solstice; however, it is actually the farthest from the sun! Additionally, even though it is the longest day of the year, it is not the earliest that the sun rises! If someone was in the Arctic Circle, this is the only day of the year that they experience 24 hours of daylight. 

Celebrate the longest day of the year in the Wetlands or Join WREN at the UO Museum of Natural History. Check out our FB page for more information! 

@WRENintheWEW

Lorquin's Admiral Butterfly

Lorquin's Admiral Butterfly

Many people may of noticed beautiful butterflies flying around their garden. Named after a French Naturalist, Pierre Joseph Michel Lorquin, the Lorquin’s admiral is a butterfly in the Nymphalinae subfamily. The Larvae start as being yellow with a white patch of white on the back. Eggs are typically laid near leaves on trees such as willow, poplar, cherry, cottonwood and orchard trees.

The Lorquin’s admiral generally have brown-black wings with a row of spots that have orange tips. Females are generally larger than males and can be found mostly in forest edges, mountain canyons, parks, stream sides and groves of cottonwood. Their usual food sources include California buckeye, yerba santa, bird droppings and dung. These butterflies are extremely territorial and will attack any intruders including large birds! In the northern areas they generally are seen flying between June and August.

Find out more about these butterflies and many other summer insects at our Wetland Wander on June 13th at Meadowlark Prairie @ 9am. Like us on FB to find out more about upcoming events.

@WRENintheWEW

June Wetland Wander!

Meadowlark Prairie 

88525 Greenhill Road

June has arrived and summer is going to be here before we know it! Join WREN for our next Wetland Wander. This month we will be exploring the wetlands and looking for early summer insects such as butterflies, dragonflies and many more! The walk will be lead by a local naturalist Rick Ahrens. 

Wetland Wanders are casual walks through the West Eugene Wetlands. The walks are FREE and open to the public. We suggest to bring water and appropriate layers. WREN will provide binoculars for anyone interested. 

Directions: Participants are asked to meet at the Meadowlark Prairie Overlook located at 88525 Greenhill Road, south of the intersection with Royal Avenue.

Questions? Contact WREN at 541.338.7047

Email: volunteer@wewetlands.org

Facebook: @WRENintheWEW

Family Exploration Day

Saturday, June 3rd

10am-2pm

 Meadowlark Prairie 

88525 Green Hill Road

The sun is starting to come out to play and summer is approaching fast! What better way to enjoy the sunshine than to have some family fun out in the wetlands?

Discover the West Eugene Wetlands with your family in a day of unstructured, independent exploration!

We provide a backpack of binoculars, field guides, bug net, hand magnifier, and bug boxes, you bring your curiosity and sense of adventure! Drop by anytime between 10am and 2pm to check out your pack. WREN staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions. You can complete the wetland scavenger hunt or just explore on your own, it is up to you!

This event is FREE and families are encouraged!

Questions?

Contact Us: 541-338-7047 

info@wewetlands.org

Camas Flower

As spring is in the air and the flowers have started to blossom you may have noticed pretty purple flowers started to sprout. These flowers are called Camas. Camas is a North American plant whose greatest diversity lies in Oregon, which is home to over 65 percent of the named species! Camas plants generally produce flowers between April and June and in Oregon the two most common Camas species found are the Great Cammas and the Common Camas. Although both species look very similar and have some hybridization, they are genetically distinct and both important for their abundance and nutrition they provide to diverse animals.

Indigenous people used the camas bulbs extensively for food. Camas bulbs were a staple of the Kalapuyan diet. After the bulbs were dug up, they were pressed into cakes and baked over several days. These highly nutritious cakes sustained the Kalapuya through the winter season and were also bartered with other tribes as a valuable commodity. Additionally, the Kalapuya burned the prairies seasonally in large part to insure the continuance of the Camas population.

Camas are still used in restoration projects to wetlands to reintroduce a native species. Each year in Oregon, indigenous communities celebrate the Camas harvest to commemorate its role in their cultural history. Find out more about Camas and other plants by joining us on our next wetland wander!

For more information contact WREN at info@wewetlands.org or check out our Facebook @WRENintheWEW

Happy American Wetlands Month!

May is the American Wetlands month! If you are out on a walk and see an area where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year around then you are looking at wetlands! Wetlands vary widely because of regional and local differences in soils, topography, climate, hydrology, water chemistry, vegetation and other factors, including human disturbance.

The wetlands in Eugene cover over 3,000 acres and protect endangered species habitats. In the West Eugene Wetlands, there are over 350 species of rare and unusual plant and animal species. Some of the species are so rare that they can only be found in the Willamette Valley. The West Eugene Wetlands are also unique because they encompass many types of habitat from wetland, to upland prairie and to oak Savannah.

There are many mitigation projects in the wetlands which strive to emulate a natural, self-regulating system that is integrated ecologically with the landscape in which it occurs before any human interference. The term mitigation refers specifically to the creation, enhancement and restoration of wetlands specifically. Under section 404 of the Clean Water Act, wetlands may be legally destroyed only if their losses are resorted which was set in place in order to help maintain a healthy wetland.

Learn more about how you can help restore, explore and learn about the Wetlands through our volunteer opportunities. Contact WREN at info@wewetlands.org or 541-338-7047.

May Wetland Wander at Stewart Pond

Tuesday, May 9th

9:00am-11:00am

Stewart Pond

Many people have heard the saying, April showers bring May flowers--well, May has arrived and the wildflowers are starting to blossom! This month's walk, on wetland botany, will be led by City of Eugene Wetland Ecologist, Diane Steeck. She will be walking us through the spring wildflowers where we might see some Oregon saxifrage, common camas, and water-plantain buttercup. Participants should bring water and dress for the weather. WREN will provide binoculars.

Directions: From West 11th Ave, turn north onto Bertelsen Road. Turn right onto Stewart Road, follow until end and park in gravel parking lot.

 

WREN Wanders are casual walks through West Eugene Wetlands sites the second Tuesday of every month. These exciting opportunities are FREE to the public and provide observation, education and inspiration in our surrounding natural spaces. 

For more information:

Call: 541-338-7047

Email: info@wewetlands.org

Family Exploration Day at Golden Gardens Park

Family Exploration Day

Saturday, May 6th

10am-2pm

Golden Gardens Park

Discover the West Eugene Wetlands with your family in a day of unstructured, independent exploration!

We provide a backpack of binoculars, field guides, bug net, hand magnifier, and bug boxes, you bring your curiosity and sense of adventure! Drop by anytime between 10am and 2pm to check out your pack. WREN staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions. You can complete the wetland scavenger hunt or just explore on your own, it is up to you!

This event is FREE and families are encouraged!

Directions: Head west on Barger Avenue, turn right onto Golden Gardens Street. Park at the intersection  of Golden Gardens Street and Jessen Drive. Look for the WREN tent to check out your pack.

Questions? 

Contact Us: 541-338-7047 

info@wewetlands.org

Earth Day with WREN

Saturday, April 22nd is Earth Day! 

The first Earth Day was celebrated 47 years ago in 1970. Did you know recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to watch 3 hours of TV? ...And it takes less energy to recycle aluminum cans than to manufacture new ones! On average, people toss out about 4 pounds of garbage every day. If all newspapers were recycled, it would save one quarter of a billion trees EVERY year! What are you doing this Earth Day to support our beautiful planet?  

Looking for something to do? 

Dig down to learn the deep history of the West Eugene Wetlands through an exploration of its soil! What does Crater Lake have to do with the West Eugene Wetlands? Why does our soil contain so much clay? We will answer these questions and more at WREN’s special Earth Day Soils Program. From the Missoula Floods to the eruption of Mt. Mazama, this presentation will span over 10,000 years of geologic history. Led by geomorphologist Karin Baitis, the program will cover geologic research methods and tools, what geologic knowledge can do for land conservation, identifying wetland soil features, and will include a field trip into the wetlands. Please come prepared for the weather with boots that can get dirty! We will break midday, please bring a sack lunch. This program is recommended for adults. 

This free event has limited space, please contact WREN to reserve your spot at info@wewetlands.org or 541-338-7047