In early January of 2003 I’m going to be part of an Elderhostel (for us senior types) to Cuba. As usual, when I make these trips to tropical or semi-tropical climes, I’ll plan to slip away from my fellow seniors to see what butterflies I can find. (They’ll all be in classes studying the history and culture of Cuba, etc.) Sometimes I succeed in luring away a few colleagues to join me. Who knows, some of those I’ve lured in the past may be avid butterfliers today. I like to think so.

I made a similar trip to Cuba in 1997. That one was to eastern Cuba, around Santiago de Cuba from whence Fidel Castro nearly half a century ago commenced his march west to Havana to seize control of the government. This time I’ll be in Havana and central Cuba. I wonder if the same species of butterflies will be flying.

On that earlier trip I identified 34 species, of which 22 were lifers. I relied principally on a huge tome I carried with me called “The Butterflies of the West Indies and South Florida.” It’s been fun to go back through the pages of that book to see my notes about just where and when I saw each of those 34 species. I had also marked up the book before that trip as to which species I MIGHT find. That work is serving me in good stead in preparing for this trip.

I’ll also be keeping my eyes open for birds and – yes – dragonflies. Stay tuned.

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