Summer 2009 Wetland Word Newsletter
Photo above: Yellow-faced Bumble Bee with Large-leaf Lupine.
Photo by Rick Ahrens
Vol. 5 Issue 2
Articles
Guide to the Summer Night Skies
West Nile Virus Information
In the Land of Dragonflies
WREN President's Column by Mike Shippey
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Guide to the Summer Night Skies
by the humorous and knowledgeable Rick Ahrens
Summer weather provides the best opportunity to venture outside and gaze at the night sky. Lack of clouds, warm temperatures, and some interesting constellations can make for enlightening nights.
Head outside and begin by locating the Big Dipper. The two pointer stars in the bowl always show the way to the North Star. If this is too difficult, there is probably an app on your iPhone with a compass. The Big Dipper is an important configuration in northern cultures since it never “sets”. In India it is known as the Seven Rishis or Sages. In England it is called the “plough” or the “butcher's cleaver”. In several other European countries it appears as a wagon. In some American Indian tribes it is seen as a Great Bear, from which we get the official Latin name Ursa Major.
Constellations are interesting because they function like a giant Rorschach test in the sky. Each culture sees different patterns and projects their own stories, beliefs, and values onto the scattered points of light overhead. Before television, people still had their imaginations intact. They could visualize and tell the visions of outer and inner worlds as they imagined them to appear on the vaulted realm above.
Now turn to your right and face southeast. Jupiter is the brightest object in this direction. If you have binoculars and can steady them on something, you will be able to see four tiny dots of light on either side of this wanderer. These four moons are the largest of more than sixty moons, and they change position slightly. Jupiter is at opposition in mid-August, which means it rises as the sun sets. It also means that the king of planets is at its brightest for the year right now and will be visible throughout summer and fall.
If you look above Jupiter, you will see three bright stars forming a large isosceles triangle, commonly called the Summer Triangle. Each star is associated with a different constellation. The start to the lower left is Deneb and is the end of the tail of Cygnus the Swan (it does look swan-ish, flying south). The star furthest south is Altair, near the head of Aquila, the Eagle (definitely bird-looking). The brightest and highest up of the triangle of stars is called Vega (the Chevy star, a cosmic clunker). It is the fourth brightest star in the sky and associated with Lyra, the Harp (you need a pretty good imagination to see this one). If you need help visualizing what constellations are supposed to look like, there is a helpful little book in the Golden Guide series simply titled “Stars”.
Now turn again to the right and face south. Here is the most distinctive constellation of summer. Scorpio looks like a giant fishhook with a scintillating, ruby colored star at its heart. If you have a flat horizon, it really does look like a scorpion, complete with a stinger. The bright red star is known as Antares. This translates to “rival of Ares”, the Greek name for Mars, since it resembles the red planet. Antares is really big (700 times wider than our sun) and really far away (520 light years).
To the left of the stinger in Scorpio is an asterism (part of Sagittarius) that resembles a teapot. If it is dark enough you can see “steam” coming out of the spout. You are looking toward the center of the Milky Way with the Great Mother and the cycle of souls coming from and returning to the heavens.
Scan the area between Scorpio’s stinger and the Teapot and you will see a multitude of stars and several distinct cloudy areas, or star clusters. Out of 200 billion starts in our galaxy, only about 2,000 are visible on any given night.
If you are an early riser, the brilliant Venus is visible as the morning star. The Greeks called this planet’s predawn appearance, Phosphorus, or “bearer of light”. The Bible refers to it as Lucifer, also meaning “light-bearing.” Reddish Mars is now also visible in the morning, up and to the right of Venus. It is not very bright right now because it is far away…and has so much Earth junk on its surface. So get out there and have a look before the stars disappear in October.
The West Eugene Wetlands are a good place to view the sunset and then watch the stars emerge. Anywhere along the bike path beyond Danebo Avenue should be dark enough. You may also see bats, beavers, and other crepuscular animals that are active at this magical time between the light and the dark.
(Thanks to www.jackstargazer for information used in this article).
West Nile Virus?
by Megan Foster, WREN, with contributions from Dr. Sarah Hendrickson, Lane County Public Health
Wetlands is a word that provokes beautiful imagery of our natural environment. Images like a great blue heron emerging through tules on a serene pond while the wind eases through cattails along the banks and dragonflies float by overhead. The word, wetlands, also provokes the idea of mosquitoes
accompanied by the underlying fear of West Nile Virus (WNV). But, is WNV something to fear in our West Eugene Wetlands? The virus was first discovered in Oregon in 2004, but as of yet, has not proven to be as big of problem as the one faced on the East Coast and in the Midwestern states.
Being a seasonal virus, beginning in the summer and continuing into the fall, WNV doesn’t spread as easily on the West coast due to conditions like our cool evenings. Mosquitoes are most active around dawn and dusk, and of course, they love standing water. Fortunately for us, our wetlands are not the ideal place for WNV, mostly because there is little standing water during the times mosquitoes are most prevalent.
Generally, in healthy wetlands, water levels fluctuate, constantly moving water and limiting mosquito reproduction. Further limiting mosquito populations, our west Eugene wetlands are seasonal. They are wet in the winter and early spring, but dry in the summer when mosquitoes are breeding and when WNV is most common.
Of the 53 different species of mosquitoes in the Pacific Northwest, a very small number carry WNV. The species that do carry the virus aren’t even common in wetlands. The more time we spend outdoors however, the more the possibility increases that we might be bitten by an infected mosquito. Fortunately, there are easy ways to reduce the risk of both mosquito bites and WNV. They are called the ABC’s of avoiding West Nile Virus. These include avoiding mosquito bites, being informed and clearing mosquitoes from your property.
Rather than avoiding certain areas, one could avoid exposing too much skin. Wear clothing like long sleeved shirts and pants when outside. You could also use products with DEET in them, which is actually not harmful to humans, if used on the skin and not eaten. For an alternative, eucalyptus based products seem to be working well too, but again, do not eat any of it.
It is also important that things with standing water like bird baths, decorative pools or pet bowls have their water changed regularly to avoid creating mosquito breeding areas. The best solution however, would be to head out to the wetlands here in west Eugene and enjoy.
In the Land of Dragonflies
by Susanne Twight-Alexander, WREN volunteer
Photo above from Children's Dragonfly Walk, July 25, 2009 by Megan Foster
“Nana, take a picture of this! Take a picture of this!” the 10-year old held out a wet hand with a strange green thing on his curled fingers. It moved. When it was still for a moment I took a picture of the narrow bodied, large headed damselfly nymph or larva. This was just one event in a fun-filled, two hour session of kids and adults chasing after dragonflies and damselflies in the West Eugene Wetlands this July. Our group leaders were Cary Kerst and Steve Gordon, co-authors of the dragonfly book Dragonflies & Damselflies of the Willamette Valley.
I’d taken my two grandsons to this event last year and they had just as much fun this year and this time we even got their dad to go along. The dad was quite successful in his attempts, bagging several dragonflies in flight (One 8 and one 12-Spotted Skimmer. The 7-year old caught two damselflies at one stroke and his older brother caught several as well. One little boy kept telling us his full count, “One dragonfly and three damsel flies, one dragonfly and three damselflies.” Steve and Cary identified the catches and all the children had a chance to hold a dragonfly before it launched into freedom.
They watched female dragonflies laying eggs, dipping their abdomen into the water; found and held numerous tiny frogs, about thumbnail size, that seemed to be hopping everywhere; learned about dragonfly eyes and the quick way to tell the difference between damselflies and dragonflies. Damsel flies are generally smaller, their eyes don’t meet, and they fold their wings together when at rest. Dragonflies are large, their eyes meet, and they hold their wings horizontally when at rest.
Some children managed to stay fairly clean while others had at least one side of their body coated with mud from slip sliding along the edge of one of the ponds. My eldest grandson ended up in the water up to his knees, figuring that the insects were purposely staying just out of reach from shore. When he walked his boots made wet, squishing noises.
This was just one of numerous activities presented by WREN during the summer. Another family event is coming up soon at Golden Gardens Park on August 15th. A couple of weeks ago I took my grandchildren to Golden Gardens where we walked around the ponds. We saw many green herons, Canada geese, killdeer, and a few turtles. One of their favorite things there was playing Pooh Sticks. If you’re familiar with the Pooh books you know this game is played by dropping a stick or twig (youngest grandson used dandelion flowers) into the water above a bridge, then racing to the other side to watch for the one that emerges first.
I’ve been taking my grandsons into the wetlands for several years now, often just the three of us, but also going with the organized WREN events. We’ve watched large flocks of geese take off near Stewart Pond, walked the Tsanchiifin Trail near the red house, observed great blue herons stalking, seen where beavers gnawed on trees, and felt the soft, gray, smoothness of pussy willows. It’s a great place for kids to learn and there are always hands-on experiences. WREN offers an opportunity for children and their parents to learn about the plants, animals, birds and insects of the wetlands. Then, as a parent or grandparent, if you want to take them on your own with children, your walk will be more interesting.
Yesterday the older boy brought me a dragonfly he had picked up off the pavement near his house and put into a plastic bag. We used Cary and Steve’s book and decided it was one of the smaller Meadowhawks.
As an adult I’ve been on many of the Wetland Wanders and have always learned something new. These are scheduled every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 9-10 a.m.
WREN President's Column
Summer, Gardens, & Canoe Culture
by Mike Shippey, WREN President
Photo above from Canoe Cultural Day on July 10, 2009 by Mike Shippey
Summer! That busy time of year when days are long and warm (it is seldom too hot here in the Willamette Valley), nights are cool and short, and generally little rest is available. This is the season for outdoor activities in the garden, however you might define the term. You might define “garden” as that patch of vegetables or herbs that supplies your kitchen, or you might define “garden” more broadly as the landscape that surrounds us. I adhere to the latter, including in my definition the forests, hills, floodplains, wetlands and even the urban areas that comprise our larger environment.
This time of year I spend as much time outside as possible, with family, friends, pets, or simply by myself, in our Willamette Valley garden. I pick up litter, occasionally remove particularly noxious plants, as well as surreptitiously cast a few native seeds about. What a beautiful and diverse garden we live in!
I walked (with my better half, Mary) the Butte to Butte this month, chatting occasionally with neighborhood observers, making note of unique and interesting residential architecture, enjoying the camaraderie of the 6000 participants. After that hike, we strolled in the park along the Willamette River near Skinner Butte, crossing the DeFazio bike bridge to Alton Baker Park, appreciating the foresight of our parks planners and decision-makers in setting aside these riverside environments for public space, and further appreciating the shifting attitudes toward maintenance of these spaces for a wider diversity of native habitats. Thoughtful planning and sensitive maintenance has created a true gem along the Willamette River for future generations, an excellent example of municipal “gardening” on a large scale.
I also recently participated in an indigenous peoples’ family canoe and tule harvesting day at Fern Ridge Reservoir. This is a practice that has occurred in the area for centuries prior to the construction of the Fern Ridge dam. The tule stalks are used for a variety of basketry and other purposes. I was impressed with the ceremonies, the chanting and the participation by multiple tribes and a wide range of age groups. This was a first event for several of the participants, but all were integrally involved. The experience of hearing the chants from canoes on the water was particularly moving. This represented to me a relationship with the Willamette Valley garden of centuries, if not millennia, where resources are harvested respectfully and conserved for future generations. The past, present and future are respected through such relationships between landscape and culture.
I have tried to implement a more contemporary approach to respecting our garden in several ways. I recycle and compost as much as possible. I have become more attentive to my consumption practices, choosing local goods from local producers with minimal packaging wherever possible. I drive my truck less and my wife’s compact more often. I am more careful with the use of energy and water around our home. And I share my evolving sensitivities with my family and friends, in the hope it helps set an example they can understand and perhaps adopt / adapt for themselves.
The work that is conducted through WREN focuses on this last activity, the sharing of information with young people of all ages (!). I believe it is primarily from experiencing that we gain understanding, and through understanding we gain appreciation. This is also gardening, planting the seed of information, nurturing that seed with experience and understanding, looking forward to the harvest of appreciation and respect. WREN supporters are gardeners in the best sense of the word.
Have a great remainder of summer. Stay cool Eugene!
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