Upcoming events
Come and join us for some superb summer butterflying in the cool and attractive White Mountains. The potential is enormous, as most of the summer species will be flying. On Saturday, we will cover US 191 from Rose Peak below the Mogollon Rim to Alpine. We will be visiting meadows and streamsides in search of such special bugs as Arctic Blue and Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur. We could see as many as 60 to 70 species. On Sunday we will head west from Springerville towards Big and Crescent Lakes to visit a set of alpine meadows, looking for Common Ringlet, blues, and numerous skippers, among many possibilities. This will take us back in the direction of Phoenix. People can leave as they wish, but it is likely that clouds/rain will bring an end to our day.
We will meet Saturday at 7:00 AM at the Best Western in Eager to head off for Rose Peak, working our way back to Springerville/Eager over the course of the day. You will need drinks and something to eat, as there is not much except butterflies south of Alpine. The departure time on Sunday will be determined on Saturday. Camping is available at various places and there are numerous motels and cabins in Springerville/Eager and Greer. Please be prepared for the possibility of clouds and rain, which could impact our ability to look for butterflies. There will be little strenuous hiking, with most of the butterflying being done along the roadside or in meadows. However much of our trip will be above 8000 feet, so it may feel more strenuous. For those interested in getting an earlier start, at least one of the leaders (Dave Powell) will be heading over early on Friday. For RSVP's and more information email Dave Powell at vireo@vireos.com
We ask for a $10 donation per person.
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This trip will explore Box Canyon near Madera Canyon. We’ll meet at the Fry’s parking lot on Baseline Road just west of I-10 at 5:30. It’s about a 2 hour drive to the canyon. Box Canyon is a well known butterfly location, which often has large numbers of individuals once the summer monsoons are in full swing. At this time of year, anywhere from 30 to 50 species are possible. Please wear comfortable walking shoes/boots, as we will be walking up the canyon where there are no clearly defined trails. There is normally water in the stream. Bring a sack lunch and drinks. If you have a way to carry water with you, that is also a good idea, because it can get fairly hot, even though we are at about 5000 feet. Wear a wide brimmed hat and sunscreen. We should be back in Phoenix in the late afternoon.
We ask for a $5 donation per person.
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Join us at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum on Saturday September 12 as we tackle our 3rd Annual Butterfly Count. Counting starts at 8:30AM sharp, so try to arrive a little early. 77 species of butterflies appear on the Arboretum's checklist, while the record for most species observed in a single day is 38 by John Saba in October, 2005. Xami Hairstreak is one of specialties that can be found at the BTA.
Chris Kline, a long time butterfly enthusiast and Monarch researcher, will fly in from Ohio this Fall to lead the annual butterfly count and also spend time tagging Monarchs for the SW Monarch Study.
The Arboretum is located on US 60, about 20 miles east of Apache Junction. Hope you can join us!
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At this meeting we will evaluate our efforts, fieldtrips and meetings of the past year. We also will talk about the upcoming election of the board and membership related issues. Members and non-members will be able to show-off their most beautiful, interesting, cutest photos of butterflies, moths or caterpillars in a photo presentation. We will be selling our 2010 Butterfly Calendar, fieldguides, jewelry and some butterfly related art on our "booktable". There will definitely be time to socialize with drinks and munchies provided.
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Recent events
On Saturday June 13th we will hike a part of the AZ/Highline trail in pursuit of colorful butterflies. This will be a joint fieldtrip with the Arizona Trail Association (ATA). As the temperature rises, the flowers start to bloom higher and higher in elevation. Butterflies follow this nectar flow “up the trail” and June is the perfect time to check them out. An abundant plant along the trail: Bergamot (attracts the pretty Fritillaries. Butterfly Weed and Arizona Thistle are also popular amongst the nectaring butterflies. Other butterflies (like Blues) are more interested in mudpuddling at one of the three springs we will pass. Yet another group of butterflies like California Sister and Weidemeyer’s Admiral are mostly found perched on trees.
Please wear sturdy shoes and a hat, bring water, snacks and a sacklunch. A pair of close focusing binoculars will be handy too. The trail is moderately steep in places, but we will take our time. Trip leaders: Marceline VandeWater and Wendy Hodgson. Meeting place is Denny’s on Shea Blvd in Fountain Hills at 6:30am or at the trailhead at 8:15am.
Details to get to the trailhead: Drive to Payson, go straight at the hwy 260 intersection. After 3/4 mile turn right onto Houston Mesa Road. Cross all 3 "water crossings", and after about 8 miles turn left at the stop sign. The road now turns into a dirt road. After about 1 miles turn right towards Shadow Rim Camp and Washington Park Trailhead. Follow this road up for about 5.5 miles until the right turn-off to the Washington Park Trailhead (marked). After a bit turn left (signs again) and you will find the trailhead well marked.
We ask for a $5 donation per person.
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Meet at 7:30 A.M. at the southeast corner of the junction of the CaveCreek Road and the road turning off to Bartlett Dam (about 8 miles East of Carefree). Bring a lunch, water, and close focus binoculars. On a butterfly trip to this area in the same month last year, we recorded 28 species of butterflies, including the amazing Yucca Giant-Skipper. There was also a stunning display of wildflowers in the area which we will hope for again this year.
Janet Witzeman has been observing and learning about Arizona butterflies since 1982 when she began going on the southeast Arizona butterfly counts with Richard Bailowitz and Doug Danforth. After learning more about butterflies in Maricopa County from Killian Roever, she has been leading butterfly field trips for the Maricopa Audubon Society since 1994.
We ask for a $5 donation.
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Meet at 7:30 A.M. at the southeast corner of the junction of the CaveCreek Road and the road turning off to Bartlett Dam (about 8 miles East of Carefree). Bring a lunch, water, and close focus binoculars. On a butterfly trip to this area in the same month last year, we recorded 28 species of butterflies, including the amazing Yucca Giant-Skipper. There was also a stunning display of wildflowers in the area which we will hope for again this year.
Janet Witzeman has been observing and learning about Arizona butterflies since 1982 when she began going on the southeast Arizona butterfly counts with Richard Bailowitz and Doug Danforth. After learning more about butterflies in Maricopa County from Killian Roever, she has been leading butterfly field trips for the Maricopa Audubon Society since 1994.
We ask for a $5 donation.
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Spring starts early in the Upper Sonoran Desert. By March many wildflowers are in bloom and on warm days the spring butterflies – Orange-tips, Marbles, Spring Azures, Variable Checkerspots, etc. - are out in force. This month the CAzBA field trip is to Round Valley in the Mazatzal Mountains, just at the upper elevational limit of the Sonoran Desert. Here, there is stream-side riparian vegetation, stands of mesquite on the flood plain, and hillsides dotted with cacti and annual wildflowers, all of which makes for a rich and accessible butterfly community. Depending on the flow in Sycamore Creek we may walk to the entrance to beautiful Log Corral Canyon which comes into the lower end of Round Valley. This area is about 50 miles from Phoenix where the Bee Line highway crosses Sycamore Creek before the road climbs to Sunflower Valley. We will gather at the Denny's on Shea Blvd. in Fountain Hills at 7:30AM. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, snacks and close focus binoculars.
We ask for a $5 donation.
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Spring time is upon us and it’s time to witness one of nature’s most spectacular transformations: butterfly metamorphosis. With the Live Butterfly Garden by Insect Lore, kids can raise butterflies while learning all about metamorphosis. In addition to a butterfly release, Ron Rutowski of the North American Butterfly Association offers a slideshow of spring butterflies. Afterward, Katie Schmidbauer-Aikins from Arizona Farm Bureau plays a bug guessing game, and Rebecca Clark with ASU’s School of Life Sciences presents an activity with leafcutter ant colonies. We’ll make butterfly wings and kids can enjoy tasty treats!
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