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Twenty-six participants attended the trip to this popular area, including about a dozen members of the Arizona Native Plant Society. This was a joint trip which enabled us to learn the names of many plants we had not known previously. A number of new species were added to our Rackensack plant list.
Some of the group hiked to the upper part of the side canyon and others spent more time in the main canyon. A total of 25 species was recorded, including a Yucca Giant-Skipper, seen and photographed on an obscure twig by only one person. What we thought might be a Meridian Duskywing turned out to be a Sleepy Duskywing (see photo). California Patches, usually uncommon, were common.
Those who could remain past noon, hiked up to the ruins at Sears Kay, where one person was able to see her lifer Great Spotted Purple Hairstreak.
Species recorded: Pipevine Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Checkered White, Sleepy Orange, Orange Sulphur, Southern Dogface, Dainty Sulphur, Great Purple Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, Reakirt’s Blue, Spring Azure, Tiny Checkerspot, Variable Checkerspot, Sagebrush Checkerspot, California Patch, Painted Lady, Empress Leilia, Mourning Cloak, Common Buckeye, Funereal Duskywing, Sleepy Duskywing, Northern White-Skipper, Common Checkered-Skipper, Orange Skipperling, Yucca Giant-Skipper.
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We had 13 participants for our yearly track up the Beeline. It was cooler and breezier than we would have liked to see butterflies and as a result we only spent time in Round Valley figuring that conditions would be even less favorable at Sunflower. So, we saw only these 10 species:
Pipevine Swallowtail, Spring White, Dainty Sulphur, Sara Orangetip, Common Buckeye, Empress Leilia, Variable Checkspot, Spring Azure, Western Pygmy Blue, Funereal Duskywing
During our stay in Round Valley I did lead a subgroup up to a local hilltop where we saw some beautiful examples of males engaged in hilltopping. We left Round Valley about 1PM. It was a fun outing and a gorgeous day. Hope you all had a good weekend. -Ron
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A brand new, large-scale themed attraction, "Butterfly Wonderland" is coming to Scottsdale (at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Community). This world-class attraction with a highly innovative, indoor, rainforest environment will feature the largest butterfly pavilion in North America, as well as numerous others entertaining, interactive and educational exhibits.
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The Miami blue butterfly -- with just a few hundred of its kind believed left in the wild -- is finally protected under the Endangered Species Act. The butterfly spent 28 years on the list of candidates for protection but this week, as part of the Center for Biological Diversity's landmark agreement to push 757 species toward protection, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized its protections. The sun-loving coastal butterfly is so endangered it was thought extinct in 1992 after Hurricane Andrew devastated south Florida, but today we know there are at least a few that survived.
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Looking for a family volunteer project that includes camping trips and chances to explore AZ? Butterfly capture-and-tagging field work gives participants an excuse to camp and explore scenic corners of AZ. Join the SW Monarch Study on Sept. 1 or Sept 23 in southern AZ, meeting in Sonoita and driving to Canelo Cienega. Study leaders will teach volunteers to safely capture the insects and affix the tiny adhesive paper tag to a hindwing before releasing them to continue their journeys.
For reservations call: SW Monarch Study coordinator Gail Morris at 602-881-5052 (or email Gail at gail-marie@cox.net
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