Fourth Of July Firefly Walk

SOUTHBURY — Celebrate the Fourth of July at the Audubon Center at Bent of the River by enjoying nature’s own fireworks display put on by the fireflies. John Longstreth will lead visitors on a full moon walk beginning at 8 pm.

The fireflies in the long grass meadows are spectacular. The mating signals of the flying males and the responding flash of the perched females turns the meadows into a blinking light show.

Fireflies, also known at lightning bugs, are neither flies nor bugs; they are actually soft-bodied beetles. The light seen flashing is the insect letting air into special organs, where an oxidation reaction takes place and creates visible light.

Watching the resident bats exiting their roost at dusk will be another highlight of the full moon walk. Special bat houses located on the side of the barn are the summer residences of big brown and little brown bats, with as many as 30 being seen on the last full moon walk.

The program is free and starts at 8 pm from the visitors’ parking area at 185 East Flat Hill Road in Southbury. For more information call 264-5098.