Wings Over Yakima – June 20-22

Hello fellow butterfly enthusiasts! As previously announced, we will once again gather in the rugged wilderness of the Yakima Valley. The last time we visited the area was on the west side of the valley during the 2009 study weekend. This time, we will venture into the heart of Yakima County, exploring the Ahtanum Valley.

David James will scout the area and provide us with field trip destinations in the weeks leading up to our gathering. Ahtanum State Forest is one prime location, where David discovered an astonishing 61 species of butterflies in 2024. Ahtanum Creek, Rimrock, Bethel Ridge, Conrad Meadows, and Crab Creek are all potential destinations.

To give us a sneak peek of what awaits us, WBA will host David on a Zoom broadcast, Monday, June 16th. A Zoom invite will be sent to our mailing list with details about his review.

Our meeting venue for both Friday and Saturday evenings will be the Yakima Arboretum, starting at 6:00PM. The Yakima Area Arboretum is an urban green space and refuge on 46 acres of land cultivated as display gardens, tree collections, and natural areas.

Friday, we will gather in the Gardenview meeting room to check-in, complete the liability waiver for the field trips, and socialize. Light refreshments will be provided to keep us energized. There is a tentative plan for a mothing experience later that evening. We will communicate that information as soon as we have confirmation and location.

On Saturday, we will gather again in the Gardenview meeting room for our program night and pizza dinner. Our keynote speaker will be our very own member and expert, Dr. David James. He will present his latest research paper, a collaborative effort with the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, on the ecology and migration of the Coronis Fritillary, Speyeria coronis. This presentation promises to offer us a fascinating glimpse into a vibrant sage-steppe butterfly.

Sunday, we will spend half a day searching for butterflies before saying goodbye – until our next WBA butterfly exploration.

Please note that you are responsible for making your own lodging arrangements. There are many lodging options in Yakima which you can review at http://www.visityakima.com/.

A Washington State Discover Pass and America the Beautiful National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Passes may be required for our filed locations.

Discover Pass | Washington State Parks

Recreational Passes | USGS Store

Online Registration is closed for this event

We hope you will join us for some great butterfly chasing and good fun!

Young Naturalist check out the Idie Ulsh Scholarship