Hello again! This is the ninth President’s Message that I have written. Wow! Time flies like a butterfly. The question is, which butterfly? Is it fluttering like a Wood Nymph or darting like a Green Hairstreak? Is it the noble gliding of a Two Tailed Swallowtail or is it the fast and furious flight of a Fritillary or Sulphur that is bound and determined to evade identification?

It is time to think about wrapping up another year of butterflying and start dreaming of next year and how glorious it is going to be. Well, let us take a moment to remember that this is still prime butterfly season for many of our Northwest Lepidoptera; many of the over-wintering adult butterflies such as Mourning Cloaks and commas are just beginning to eclose and seek their territory for the fall and into the winter. It is time for a fan favorite, the Mormon Metalmark to emerge and search for fall-blooming flowers upon which to nectar.

It is with these thoughts that I would like to reflect back a couple of weeks to our study weekend. We had about 40 excited folks in the field with nets, cameras, and close-focus binoculars all prepared to deal with the bright July sunshine. As the Board President, both past and again for 2024, it was a great source of pride that watching the study weekend unfold. All the folks who contributed worry, sweat, time, and energy put on a great event.

The group gathered at the visitors center in Metaline Falls and enjoyed once again seeing those familiar faces all charged up and ready to go. It was wonderful hearing how summers were going, and what new species people saw this spring. The gathering continued into the evening – at least until the city’s sprinklers came on! Some stayed to watch David Droppers put on a Moth 101 clinic.

The next day was great with David James and Dave Nunnallee leading the way down to tiny Ione and up the Smackout Pass Road. Good butterflying was found both under the power lines and up the Jim Creek Road. When we headed to beautiful Big Meadows Lake area was when we noticed, not all cars made it there. I am not casting doubt on David and Dave’s field leadership abilities but rather on the dusty roads which led to “dust out” conditions, and varying levels of driver comfort. On Sunday morning, we were to meet at Tiger Meadows and go from there.

Not everybody made it, and several of us did not get to the next stop at all but after an hour of looking we ended up opting for a trip up to Bunchgrass Meadows. We saw some great new species like the Northern Blue and Western Meadow Fritillary.

My point is, are there changes that we should make to avoid such confusion and help David and Dave out? Yes, they had walkie-talkies, but only a paired set. Our Board has been careful with our funds and perhaps we should consider purchasing a much larger set that could be more widely distributed.

We might also want to consider a more organized splitting up on Sunday; we certainly have other capable leaders and to help take some of the burden off David and Dave. Of course, who wants to miss out on David and Dave’s expertise? It is something to think about and kick around for the future. Talk to a Board member and let them know what you think.

Jim

Editor’s 2 cents worth: Butterflies live on unpaved roads. Un-paved roads are dusty, potholed, rocky, and washboarded. If your car can’t handle that, try to ride with someone else. If your car can, please plan on giving someone else a ride. Keep the car in front of you in sight, and wait for everyone to catch up at all intersections.

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