Life Technologies volunteers "Wade for the Wetlands"

Last Wednesday, 28 volunteers from Life Technologies volunteered their time to clean-up Amazon Creek between Beltline and Terry. Three years ago, Life Technologies (formally Invitrogen) adopted a section of the creek through the Eugene Stream Team's adoption program.

Volunteers removed blackberries and scotch broom, and hauled an incredible amount of trash from the creek, in just four short hours. If you'd like to see just how much trash was removed, come to the Walkin' and Rollin' through the Wetlands event on May 30th, where the trailer will be parked for all to see. For more information visit http://www.wewetlands.org/.

Wetland Wander, Stewart Pond Area

Windy but no rain and the five participants enjoyed an exploration of meadows and forest. Camus was in bloom, grass was green, oaks (white and black) were leafed out. We saw red-winged blackbirds, a red-tailed hawk, goldfinches, several kinds of swallows, a cinnamon teal and a green winged teal along with the usual scattering of Canada geese.

Turtles & Mergansers

WREN recently received a couple of wildlife photos to share. The first is a Western Pond Turtle taken by photographer Steve Reed in the mid-Willamette Valley. These turtles can often be seen right here in the West Eugene Wetlands, especially in Amazon Creek, basking in the sun! Doesn't this one look like it is wearing a big grin?!

The second photo was sent to us by Kenny Lee Mock: a pair of Hooded Mergansers in Amazon Creek.

Thank you for sharing these photos!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Ragged Painted Ladies
You've probably seen these Painted Ladies around the area. They look pretty worn out after traveling 500, 600 or maybe 700 miles from California. Art Shapiro at UCD says these are some of the migrants from California (http://butterfly.ucdavis.edu/). A truly amazing trip on those little wings!


The Bee Flies ( Bombyliidae) were out feeding on nectar with that long proboscis and pollinating our flowers. Interestingly, the larvae of these flies are parasites of solitary bees!

The Camas and Bradshaw's Lomatium are blooming at Willow Creek.

This Audubon's (Yellow-rumped) has caught an insect at Grimes Pond.

This Nashville Warbler was one of many at Willow Creek picking insects from blooming trees. Watching them, its amazing how many insects they can pull out of the blooms.

The Dowitchers were napping at Stewert Pond.

A Downy Woodpecker working on a tree at Willow Creek.

American Wetlands Month is right around the corner! Check out all the upcoming events in May at http://www.wewetlands.org/