Wildlife
Flying Trillium is a sanctuary for a wide range of wildlife species and offers a unique diversity of natural habitats. In these photographs we highlight birds, both migratory and year-round species, resident reptiles and amphibians, and the butterflies that depend on the host plants we provide.
Resident Reptiles & Amphibians
We invite you to explore this gallery of reptiles and amphibians, many of which are secretive and hard to find. Most of the ones shown here are primarily terrestrial, moving about through our fields and forests, with occasional trips to the vegetable garden. For a deeper dive into those that reproduce in water, please visit the Ephemeral Ponds Gallery
Ephemeral Ponds
Ephemeral ponds, also called vernal ponds, are small bodies of water that typically do not hold water throughout the season. For this reason, they cannot support fish. This makes them ideally suited to be safe breeding habitat for amphibians like frogs and salamanders.
Birds
Between the gardens and the preserve, FTGP supports a wealth of varied habitats that, in turn, support many different species of birds. We are graced with the presence of neotropical migrants using meadows, marshes and forests for resting and refueling. Some of these songbirds remain during the entire breeding season. Year-round residents winter over with us. Our populations of native trees, shrubs and flowers produce an abundance of caterpillars for nourishing clutches of baby birds during the breeding season. These photos highlight the variety of recent visitors as well as year-round residents (all photos taken by Carolyn onsite at FTGP).
Caterpillars and Their Butterflies
This gallery pairs photos of some common caterpillars on their respective host plants with photos of the adult butterfly. Without providing native host plants, we would not be able to support reproducing populations of these lovely creatures. (All photos taken by Carolyn onsite at Flying Trillium Gardens and Preserve. )