Changing times

There are more flower varieties coming out now the danger of frost has receded. Different flowers use different colors to attract different insects. Pale white is better for night insects like moths. Bees seem to like purple, blue for flies. Hummingbirds like red but those flowers are usually oddly shaped. There are many species of wasp out. almost all of them are non stinging and are searching for good nesting sites. The notorious yellowjackets come out in the heat of summer for people's sugary drinks at picnics.

The variety of moths at the night light traps have improved with the higher night time temperatures. Inaturalist is having a BioBlitz, and they recommend moths as one of the easiest animals to attract and photograph with an average phone camera.

This fence lizard was cold enough that my child was able to walk up and touch it on the nose yesterday. He got bopped on the nose again today. I thought it was because the lizard was cold, but it might be this lizard is not strongly averse to people...A survival trait, or a hindrance?

This is a small red eared slider who's ancestor came from released pets, probably in the 80's during the teenager mutant ninja turtles phase.  Turtles use the sun to jump start their day by heating up.

We found a snapping turtle that was unusually lethargic, even for an ambush predator that eats once a week. After fishing it out using a lot of care, we found the head was damaged from what was likely a encounter with a passing car. It is likely to die, but it was still very alive, even though it was missing it's eyes. We called animal control who came and collected it to see if there might be a rehabber who would try and help it recover.

It was unusual today to hear so many engines and noise, there were lawnmovers and vehicles and airplanes and cellphones. Quite an assault on the senses after weeks of silence. There were many people out enjoying Earth day too. I think we as a species might be quick to alarm, but even quicker to forget...