If you think birds and monarch butterflies are the only creatures migrating through Door County this time of year, take a closer look at the skies.

Dragonflies are also making their seasonal journey south, with the Common Green Darner among the species that can be spotted around the peninsula in late summer and early fall.

“Each species has their own migratory pattern,” said Sam Koyen, Executive Director of Crossroads at Big Creek. “Darners migrate and are the larger dragonfly that people think of as the most iconic dragonfly.”

Koyen said dragonflies are far more diverse than many people realize.

“Each dragonfly species is highly unique,” she said.

Door County’s Lake Michigan shoreline provides an opportunity to see these insects as they move through the area. Some dragonflies can travel hundreds of miles during migration.

But not every dragonfly heads south. Many species spend the winter underwater as nymphs.

“You can’t see it, but there are a lot of dragonfly larvae burrowing into the earth,” Koyen said.

If you want to experience Door County’s seasonal changes up close, Crossroads at Big Creek will host a Wandering Wednesday naturalist-led hike at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 30.

So the next time a dragonfly zips past you, stop for a second. You might be watching one of Door County’s smallest seasonal travelers on a much longer journey than you imagined.