Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands

08/22/2026

Did You Know?

Those bold orange-and-black wings aren’t just beautiful—they’re a warning!

Monarch butterflies are toxic to many predators because, as caterpillars, they feed on milkweed and store cardenolides, chemical compounds that can make them unpleasant (and potentially harmful) to eat. Their bright colors serve as a natural “stay away!” signal, helping predators learn to avoid them.

Here’s where we come in: Protecting native milkweed means protecting an important food source for monarch caterpillars—and giving these incredible pollinators a better chance to thrive.

If you want to know more, stop by our butterfly garden on Friday mornings where you will find our volunteer gardeners hard at work. They love to share their knowledge and can point out all sorts of fascinating thing happening in the garden.

Nature has some pretty amazing survival strategies!

08/20/2026

Happy World Mosquito Day!

Did you know that mosquitoes are more than just a summertime nuisance?

World Mosquito Day commemorates the work of British physician Sir Ronald Ross, who discovered in 1897 that mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans. His discovery helped transform our understanding of this disease and the role mosquitoes play in its spread.

But mosquitoes are also an important part of the ecosystem!

They’re food! Mosquitoes and their aquatic larvae provide nourishment for many animals, including birds, bats, fish, frogs, newts, and salamanders. In our wetlands, mosquito fish help keep mosquito populations in check by feeding on their larvae.

They can pollinate, too! While female mosquitoes need a blood meal to produce eggs, both male and female mosquitoes feed on plant nectar. As they visit flowers, they can pick up and transfer pollen between plants.

There are more than 3,500 mosquito species worldwide, but only a small percentage are known to bite humans. So, while mosquitoes may be irritating to us, they’re still an important piece of the food web.

How can you reduce mosquitoes around your home?

Eliminate standing water. Empty water from buckets, flowerpot saucers, toys, birdbaths, and other containers where mosquitoes can lay eggs.

Keep your landscape maintained. Reduce areas where water can collect and make sure containers are emptied regularly.

Use an EPA-registered mosquito repellent when spending time outdoors and follow the label directions.

The next time you see a mosquito, remember there’s more to these tiny insects than meets the eye!

08/19/2026

Happy World Photography Day!

Did you know photography and nature have been telling stories together for nearly 200 years?

The journey began in 1839 with the Daguerreotype—a fascinating early process that captured detailed images on copper plates. Then, in 1884, George Eastman helped make photography more accessible with flexible film, paving the way for the Kodak camera and the photography revolution!

Today, wildlife photographers continue that tradition by capturing the beauty, behavior, and wild moments we might otherwise miss.

Now it’s your turn! Share your favorite nature or wildlife photo from Green Cay with us! At Green Cay, we like to feature fan photos. Whether you’re a photography pro or simply love snapping pictures on your nature walks, we’d love to see what catches your eye.

Send your photos to [email protected] or tag us for a chance to be featured!

What’s your favorite thing to photograph in nature?

08/18/2026

DID YOU KNOW???

Honeybees may be tiny, but they are busy little travelers!

When a honeybee leaves the hive to forage for food, it can visit 50–100 flowers during a single trip! And these little pollinators may travel up to 2 miles from their hive in search of nectar and pollen.

That’s a LOT of flowers—and a LOT of flying—for one tiny bee!

As bees move from flower to flower, they pick up pollen and transfer it to other flowers, helping plants reproduce and supporting the food we depend on.

So the next time you see a bee buzzing from flower to flower, remember that little bee is hard at work helping our ecosystem thrive!

Bee sure to stop and appreciate your neighborhood pollinators!

08/16/2026

Sunday funny...

08/15/2026

Let’s Celebrate National Honeybee Day!

Today, we’re buzzing with appreciation for one of nature’s most important pollinators! National Honeybee Day, observed on the third Saturday of August, is a great opportunity to learn about honeybees and the vital role pollinators play in healthy ecosystems.

Did you know?
Honeybees visit flowers to collect nectar and pollen. As they move from flower to flower, they transfer pollen between plants, helping many crops produce fruits and seeds. Pollination supports our food systems, wild plants, and the biodiversity of healthy ecosystems.

But honeybees aren’t the only bees that matter!
There are around 20,000 species of bees worldwide, and the vast majority are native wild bees. From tiny sweat bees to colorful carpenter bees, these often-overlooked pollinators play an essential role in our natural world. And of those thousands of bee species, only seven species are known to produce honey.

How can you help pollinators?
• Plant native flowering plants that provide nectar and pollen throughout the year.
• Avoid unnecessary pesticide use and choose pollinator-friendly pest management methods.
• Leave some natural areas in your yard or garden for bees to nest and find shelter.
• Provide a variety of flowers, especially plants that bloom during different seasons.
• Most importantly, observe and appreciate bees from a safe distance!

Here at Green Cay Nature Center, we’re lucky to share our natural spaces with many incredible pollinators. The next time you see a bee visiting a flower, take a moment to watch—it’s a tiny animal doing an important job for the ecosystem.

Happy National Honeybee Day!

08/15/2026

Did you know that ants have an incredible sense of smell?

For an animal that’s so tiny, an ant’s "nose" is pretty amazing! Ants use their antennae to detect chemical scents called pheromones. These chemical signals help them communicate with one another, find food, follow trails, recognize members of their colony, and even warn each other about danger.

Imagine being able to leave a tiny scent trail for your friends to follow—that’s basically an ant’s version of leaving a message!

So, the next time you see a line of ants marching across the ground, take a closer look. They may be following an invisible chemical highway that you can’t smell at all!

Small body. BIG senses!

08/14/2026

This week's Fan Photo Friday features two beautiful moments captured during our Night Stalkers program on July 29, 2026!

As the sun set over Green Cay, we were treated to the breathtaking sight of the Full Buck Moon rising over the wetlands. Its golden glow reflecting across the water made for an unforgettable end to the evening, and our talented volunteers were ready with their cameras!

🌕 Photo 1: "Full moon rising, water birds roosting, Green Cay Wetlands Night Stalkers Tour 7/29/26." — 📷 Ron Seifer

🌕 Photo 2: "I am submitting a photo I took when I joined a Night Stalkers walk on July 29th. We were lucky to see the full moon rise that evening." — 📷 Gerri Gallo

A huge thank you to Ron and Gerri for sharing these incredible photos with us!

Want to be featured in a future Fan Photo Friday? We'd love to see Green Cay through your eyes! Send us your favorite photos from your visits to Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands by emailing them to [email protected] with "Fan Photo Friday" in the subject line. Your photo could be our next featured fan submission!

08/11/2026