Thank you to Abby Colehour (in red) from the Long Tom Watershed Council for leading a lovely Wetland Wander at Coyote Creek South!
This wet prairie restoration site is now home to streaked horn larks, a federally listed threatened species, and will hopefully provide critical habitat for endangered red-legged frogs too. Abby toured us around the site and described the construction and seeding involved in the project, and pointed out interesting plants with medicinal properties such as gumweed (yellow) and a species of epilobium (pink).
As we were leaving we chanced upon a European mantis (Mantis religiosa)! Seconds after this photograph was taken she decided to use her raptorial forelegs on the fingers holding her, but fortunately neither man nor mantis were harmed in the exchange.
Stay tuned for details about our upcoming Wetland Wander in September!