Wednesday, March 18 - Nature Break

Today we have sunshine! Head outside and soak it up for a little while, vitamin D is good for the soul!

While you're outside, or even if you just look out your window, you'll likely see big, slender bugs bumbling around your windows and walls. These insects are crane flies, and are quite possibly the most harmless creatures on the planet. Even though they have scary nicknames like "mosquito hawk" and "giant mosquito," they pose no threat to any animal, and most don't even have mouthparts.

A couple of weeks ago when I was walking down to the lake at Nolan, a crane fly careened along beside me, almost like he was walking with me. Although he crashed into the ground far more often than he flew, he kept me company for quite a while before getting distracted and flying off another direction.

Crane flies are one of our first signs that spring has indeed arrived, and they are a welcome sight to hungry birds, insects and fish.

Did you know there are over 15,000 species of crane flies? And most of their habits and behaviors are still a mystery to scientists.

This article has tons of good information about crane flies:

https://entomologytoday.org/2015/08/17/mosquito-hawk-skeeter-eater-giant-mosquito-no-no-and-no/

And this website is a lovely digital nature journal with spectacular pictures:

http://www.metrofieldguide.com/diary-of-an-urban-wild-garden-crane-fly-frenzy/

I hope you have some quiet time today to enjoy the tiny, bumbling gifts of nature!