These are a few of our favorite...GREEN THINGS in Rocky River River Reservation: 1) The female Eastern Pondhawk dragonfly, common around wetlands in this area, is a brilliant green & black. 2) Northern Leopard Frogs blend brilliantly with grasses and sedges around the edges of ponds and wet fields, and their calls sound like a deep snore. 3) Green-winged Teal, a spring and fall migrant through the Cleveland region. Males have a shimmering green racing stripe running from the eye to the back of the head, and an eye-popping green speculum patch on their wings. 4) The wild-looking Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar is lime green with crazy eyes - two large dark spots that mimic eyes -- a feature that helps to deter predators. 5) The Luna Moth is just plain awesome, with long streaming hindwing tails and massive feathery antennae. 6) Sleek and fast Greenside Darters like the coldest, shallowest and swiftest parts of the river. Males are seriously decked out in some of the sportiest party-time colors of the freshwater fish world. Naturalist Jen Brumfield. (Green-winged Teal by Steve Baranoff, Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar by Betty Hall).
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:52:12 +0000