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