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