News from the Friends of Reinstein

Nature Sightings

As summer approaches, cottonwood seeds begin to float through the air. Flowering Dame’s rockets attract many pollinators such as hummingbird clear wing moths, red admiral and tiger swallowtail butterflies. You will also find a variety of bee visitors. Dragonflies are emerging from the ponds and will increase in numbers through July. The vibrant common whitetail cruise along the pond edges coming to rest on a stick protruding from the water. Ash trees, black locust, and wild grape vines are flowering. The “Gunk” calls of green frogs fill the air with an occasional jug o rum call of the bullfrogs.  The melodic whistle of the Baltimore oriole is a frequent sound around the trails. Look for their hanging woven nests above the trails. Great blue heron wade through the water lilies (in full bloom), stealthily spearing unsuspecting fish. Sunfish and blue gills hover over their gravel nests fanning it with their fins. Black swallowtail butterflies may be seen laying their eggs on wild carrot leaves. Keep an eye out for snapping turtles laying their eggs in early morning. They will sometimes travel a fair distance to find a suitable place to lay their eggs. With Monarch butterflies returning, look for them to be laying eggs on common milkweed plants.