Montgomery County has some lesser known, yet very numerous, native residents: the 17-year periodical cicadas that visited us with great gusto in 1987 and 2004. The reappearance of the periodicals every 17 years suggests a certain measure of stability in our local environment, a natural sign for us. As these cicadas offer a unique opportunity for observing and studying nature in our own backyards, this presentation will demonstrate the intersection of cicada natural history and human history as we look forward to welcoming these native Montgomery Countians back to our neighborhoods this spring.Clarence Hickey is a retired biologist and environmental scientist who has more than 150 science, nature, and environmental publications in many print media sources. He volunteers with many community organizations, public and private, offering programs in local history and 19th century medical history, in natural resources, and how to be your own scientist studying nature in your own backyard. Clarence has been observing and studying cicadas since the 1950s.