Columbia Gorge

We are happy to announce that our Fourteenth Annual Conference will be held in Goldendale, Washington, on the weekend of May 31 through June 2. We expect to see butterflies not common in the rest of the state, including the large, black Indra Swallowtail, as well as the Propertius Duskywing.

This area transitions from the steep slopes of the southern Cascade Mountains down to the dramatic Columbia Gorge. Forests here include an interesting mix of fir, pine, and oak. Grassland covers south-facing slopes and low plateaus, riparian corridors crisscross throughout, and springs and ponds dot the area. Local animal species of note are black- tailed deer, western gray squirrels, western pond turtles, and Vaux’s swifts. And of course, butterflies!

Within this unique area, one finds plants that aren’t common elsewhere in our state – for instance, two Ceanothus species, both integerrimus and prostratus. The area is well known for its variety of buckwheats and groves of Garry oak. Butterflies include the Indra Swallowtail – uncommon elsewhere in Washington – and the Propertius Duskywing near its oak host plants, as well as a wide variety of other shrub-steppe butterflies.

At least one field trip will visit the Klickitat Wildlife Area, where we’ll keep a lookout for an interesting variety of early flying eastside species.

Noted naturalist and award-winning author Dr. Robert Michael (Bob) Pyle will participate in our field trips, at least one of which will visit the Klickitat Wildlife Area, where we’ll keep a lookout for an interesting variety of early-flying east- side species among the nearly 100 species of butterflies in Klickitat County.

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David James previews the butterflies that might be seen at the study weekend.