Spiva Butte Preserve, May 12

The Spiva Butte Preserve is in the final stages of getting its full funding allowing it to change management from the original owner, Ferdi Businger, to the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust. Like many preserves, it is not open to the public, but can be visited with permission from the steward, Ferdi, or the Land Trust managers. Ferdi asked the WBA to visit the preserve in the spring to do an inventory of butterflies.

Five of us made the journey to this beautiful property. Ferdi gave us a tour of the land which includes the butte with hill topping butterflies, shrub-steppe areas, a wetlands and a lake. We were surprised to find a large colony of Arctic Blues on the preserve. We also saw Anise Swallowtail, Indra Swallowtail, Desert Marble, Large Marble, Becker’s White, Western White, Sheridan’s Hairstreak, Western Green Hairstreak, Silvery Blue, Boisduval’s Blue and the Common Ringlet.

Ferdi showed us slides he had taken at different times of the year that revealed other species on the site. The most exciting find among these was the Silver- bordered Fritillary, a species of concern in our state, thus, a newly discovered colony of them. Ferdi was particularly happy to learn of this as it gave more strength to the pre- serve status for this land. We continue to stay in touch with Ferdi as the final stages of the preserve process are complete. If you would like additional information on the history of the preserve, Ferdi has written a great article on Spiva Butte that was published in the North Cascades Audubon Society Newsletter. :

Keen Eyed Frit Finders Claim Success Under Impossible Conditions! Big Meadow, Bonner County, Idaho; June 9

Despite rainy conditions the entire day, and temps never warmer than 55 degrees, four members of the Spokane chapter of WBA managed to find a butterfly species on the Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) list given us by WFDW entomology specialist, Ann Potter, last year at our training.

Though hoping against hope to locate an early flight of the Meadow Fritillary at a site in Bonner County, Idaho, where this butterfly is known to occur, the team instead found Boloria selene, the little Silver Bordered Fritillary, two individuals that braved weather too frigid for other frits and just about every other butterfly. Only the Ochre Ringlet was able to rise into view alongside them. This challenging adventure offered great wildflower viewing and great camaraderie!

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Redtop Mountain, NE of Cle Elum, June 30

Beautiful area but the day was mostly cool and cloudy with very few butterfly species seen (7) and very few of them.

Video from Al Wagar