Field Trips for Everyone?

With most of our members west of the Cascades and most of our butterflies east of them, we could make it easier for more members to join our east-side field trips. A few east-siders already do. But defining and announcing some rendezvous points close to field trip locales might entice more of them. The approach worked well for our recent trip to the Tahuya Peninsula, with Belfair State Park being an ideal rendezvous point and folks from Olympia, Gig Harbor, Kingston, and Poulsbo meeting us there.

In contrast with last year, our field season got off to a great start, with no cancellations and with very successful trips to Cowiche Canyon, Schnebly Coulee, Manastash Ridge, and the Tahuya Peninsula. For the early trips, Dave Nunnallee’s experience was especially important, and by shifting one trip from Saturday to Sunday as well as moving the locale, he got us into warm temperatures and butterflies we’d otherwise have missed.

Assisted by Carolyn Heberlein, Idie Ulsh coordinated the Tahuya trip, another great one, and hosted us at her cabin on a lake with a view of the Olympics, a wonderful spot. Weather was ideal and several of the species encountered were new for some of us.

Next up is a Sunday afternoon trip at Seattle’s Discovery Park. It is designed for beginners wanting to check us out before committing to a long drive over the mountains. Then it’s on to Reecer Canyon, the Chumstick Fourh-of-July count and our tenth annual conference, which promises to be great.

G’num2009Vol10No3