We beginners and semi-beginners can have just as much fun as advanced butterfliers. Certainly while we are traveling and on our own–on vacation, for example-we can make our own searches for new and different butterflies. Except in winter conditions, any trip away from our usual haunts opens up possibilities whenever we can find some time to get out in the field. All we need is a pair of close-focus possibilities whenever we can find some time to get out in the field. All we need is a pair of close-focus binocs and a field guide (some of us like to take our nets along but that’s a personal choice and certainly not essential.)

As to binocs, see the excellent article on page 24 of the Summer issue of “American Butterflies.” It is by Gary M. Fellers and is entitled “Binoculars for Butterflying.” It tells you just about everything you need to know except how to find the money for this fairly expensive investment.

As to field guides, Jeffrey Glassberg’s three books on “Butterflying Through Binoculars” now cover any place you’re going in the lower 48. There are also available some fine regional guides for butterflying spots you might be visiting in southeastern Arizona, Florida or California. For our own state and region, Bob Pyle’s book, “Butterflies of Cascadia” will soon be out. If you’re going further afield than the U. S., there are many country-by-country guides and I recommend searching for them before you go—or, if you’re as much of an enthusiast as I am, perhaps before you even decide where to go.

Personally, I don’t like to look for butterflies if I’m in a place where there is no good, complete guide. I just get frustrated. For example, Mexico has splendid butterflies but for most regions there is no guide available. There is, though, a fine guide for Baja California which Richard Llndstrom and I used during a trip down there not long ago.

I’ve found some particularly useful guides for far-off places I’ve been fortunate enough to visit. For example, there’s a super guide for all of Europe, part of the Collins guide series. I’ve located OK guides for individual provinces and countries from Alberta to Egypt. For a good list of available guides, with descriptions, I use “BioQuip Products,” 17803 La Salle Avenue, Gardena, Ca. 90248-3602, phone (310)324-0620, Fax (310)324-7931, e-mail: bioquip@aol.com, web page: www.bioquip.com. They’ll ship guides to you. Closer to home, Seattle Audubon Society, 8050 35th Avenue N.E, and Flora and Fauna Books on First Avenue in the Pioneer Square neighborhood in Seattle have many good guides and of course it’s often helpful to check out a book in hand before buying it. If you’d like to discuss your travel plans vis-a-vis butterflying possibilities, give me a call at (206) 860 9569. If I can’t help you, I bet I can find another WBA board member who could.

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