Bird and Bug Blitz with One Truckee River

Discover nature that can be found right in our backyards – including common birds, creepy crawly bugs, butterflies, and more! We’ll begin our Lake Park exploration with a short discussion about the creatures we’re likely to find, and why they matter.

Then, we’ll walk (and poke) around the lake to see what we can find. Mallard ducks, American robin, American goldfinch, and a colorful variety of spiders, bees, and butterflies can often be found in Lake Park. With milkweed flowers in bloom, we’ll keep watch for monarch butterflies.

Bring your notebooks and pencils to track what you see and experience, as well as a hat, sunscreen, and binoculars if you have them. Binoculars for loan will be provided.

This event is perfect for wildlife lovers and adventurers of all ages!

Difficulty: Less than a mile, even terrain. 

Leaders: Jaida Marinas and Cathy Schmidt

Jaida Marinas is a UNR alumnus with a degree in Biology and a minor in Analytical Chemistry. Her hobbies include baking, writing, entomology, and birding. Jaida has experience in environmental restoration, conservation, and currently works in chemistry.

Cathy Schmidt has lived in Reno for 41 years and is a retired educator with a BS in Economics from Penn State. She has three grown sons and enjoys hiking, birding, reading, and traveling. She helped found The Friends of Lake Park and volunteers regularly with many local non-profits focused on caring for our natural environment.

Photo of a a dragonfly by Ashlee Marie