By Megan Hart, Park Biologist
As a nod to the summer season, let’s go on a scavenger hunt for red, white and blue things in nature throughout Lake Metroparks.
One of the brightest red wildflowers that can be found in the parks is the dazzling cardinal flower. Cardinal flowers can be found in wet areas where they almost glow with their crimson color. This showy flower is utilized by butterflies and ruby-throated hummingbirds for nectar. You can search for this wildflower at Veterans Park, Hidden Valley Park and Hell Hollow Wilderness Area.
Cardinal flower
There are also several bird species that show off bright red feathers. The most well-known is our state bird: the northern cardinal. Male northern cardinals are bright red with black face masks and throats. These birds can be found throughout the park system. The other bird that sports dazzling red plumage is the scarlet tanager. These birds are brilliant scarlet with jet black wings. Despite their bright color, they can be difficult to find because they tend to stay at the tops of trees. To help locate them, listen for their “chick burr” calls. Scarlet tanagers can be found in parks with forests like Baker Road Park, Girdled Road Reservation, Hidden Lake and Chapin Forest Reservation.
Scarlet tanager
A stunning example of white in nature is the great egret. This gorgeous bird is all white with a sharp yellow bill. These birds appear dazzling against the greens and browns of the wetlands they are found in. Great egrets can be found at Arcola Creek Park and Hidden Lake, especially in late summer. Great egrets are considered a Species of Concern in Ohio.
Great egret
Many wildflowers come in white, which tends to attract bees and flies as pollinators. Foxglove beardtongue has tube-shaped white flowers that are a favorite of bumblebees. These attractive flowers can be found in early summer at Lake Erie Bluffs and Pleasant Valley Park. If you fancy a walk by a wetland, the flowers of broadleaf arrowhead plants are a great one to find the color white. These plants enjoy having their roots in very wet areas, are favorites for bees and flies and also provide food for wildlife and were used as a food source by Native Americans. Broadleaf arrowhead can be found at Hidden Lake, Penitentiary Glen Reservation and River Road Park.
Foxglove beardtongue
Eastern bluebirds, blue jays and indigo buntings are all excellent representations of blue in nature. Fun fact: even though these birds appear blue, they do not have any blue pigment in their feathers. The blue that our eyes see is due to the feather structure that causes light to scatter in a certain way through their feathers. Eastern bluebirds can be found in any of the parks with fields like Hogback Ridge Park, Chagrin River Park and Penitentiary Glen Reservation. Blue jays can be found in every park and typically can be seen flying tree to tree while making their raucous calls. Indigo buntings prefer areas that are brushy on the edges of woods and fields and can be seen regularly at Lake Erie Bluffs, Girdled Road Reservation (South and Skok Meadow), Penitentiary Glen Reservation and Lakeshore Reservation.
Blue jay
Our area is also a great place to see beautiful blue butterflies. Butterflies like the red-spotted purple and spicebush swallowtail have beautiful blue accents to their wings. Both species are commonly found in or near wooded areas. The two butterflies appear somewhat similar when compared to each other, but the red-spotted purple has more extensive blue on the wings and doesn’t have a tail. The spicebush swallowtail has more of a black coloration with a band of moon-shaped light bluish-green markings on the edge of the wings and has a tail. These species can be found in parks with forests and a nearby population of wildflowers like Gully Brook Park, Indian Point Park and Helen Hazen Wyman Park.
Red-spotted purple
One bird combines all three colors—the wild turkey. Male wild turkeys have small bare heads with blue skin, red wattles and white patches. They become more colorful during their breeding season in spring when their head colors and feather displays help to attract females. Wild turkeys can be seen in many of the parks, but tend to be elusive and wary of people, especially when hens have chicks with them. Wild turkeys may be seen at parks with diverse habitat types like Penitentiary Glen Reservation, Lake Erie Bluffs and Girdled Road Reservation.
Wild turkeys
These are just some of the options for completing your red, white and blue scavenger hunt this season. Keep your eyes open and have fun searching while enjoying the parks! Tag @lakemetroparks and use #RedWhiteBlueNature to share your photos!