When I was a kid, I remember seeing clouds of them in the school field when we went out to play. There used to be so many that they would cover your windshield. For the last few years I have hardly seen any around. Today, I only saw a single solitary bug lazily flying through the air.
I suspect the rapidly changing climate is the cause but, I guess I feel a bit of shock at realizing and reflecting on the fact that this is happening right at home.
All of the bugs are mostly gone, fireflies have completely disappeared. I barely even see flies anymore even though just three years ago one would randomly get stuck in my room at least once a month.
I wish I could have seen fireflies, that and snowfall. I guess the closest I got to the idealized image of a field full of fireflies at night was going through a field full of Lovebugs. These things will just become stories to tell future generations because they will never get to see it for themselves.
One of the grimmest comments I've ever read, I'm sorry comrade
I have vivid memories of seeing fireflies off the back deck floating over wheat fields all summer long. It was magical, and the fact it's been stolen from younger generations is inexcusable
Thank you. I appreciate your sympathy.
Honestly, seeing that solitary Lovebug today made me immediately think of that popular animated video on the last Kauai O'o calling out in vain. I was wondering if we have reached that moment yet but, with a species of insect in this case.
If you're near there, I was in Kissimmee Prairie Preserve over by Lake Okeechobee a couple summers back and saw fireflies in Florida for like the first time in 20 something years.🤞
Never been there but, it sounds beautiful.
Tbh, the preserve is pretty plain, but there's plenty of wildlife and it's a Dark site. This was posted on one of the boards.😅
So if you have a decent camera and go during a new moon with few clouds in the summer, you can get some pretty good shots of the milky way. But, beware of the wildlife. I was taking photos at like 1am on the side of a trail and had to book it out of there because a pack of boars started to circle around my location. It was pretty exciting.
Beautiful view tho. I'd definitely like to get back there with some better equipment and try again.
I've never seen stars like that in my area. I didn't think it was possible anywhere in Florida, and only associated views like that with less densely populated areas like New Mexico. It's beautiful to see.
Bear in mind, that's with a shutter speed of like 10 seconds or so. But on a night with no moon and your eyes adjusted, it's still quite a sight. I'd really like to get back out there for a meteor shower. I bet that'd be amazing.
My dad would love it. He's been a amateur photographer his whole life but, always thought he'd have to go to Colorado or Alaska to see stuff like this.
Oh, yeah totally. They can be a bit out of the way, but Florida does have its share of Dark Sky Sites.
I have to check this out, thanks for the link.
Welcome. Good luck!
The fireflies were back last summer where I live, it was the first time I can remember seeing them in a long time.