Field Trip Ahtanum State Forest, Yakima

Spring WBA Butterfly Field Trip
Ahtanum State Forest, Yakima, with David James
Friday, May 9

If you are interested, email David at david_james@wsu.edu and he will send you further information.

Long ago a haunt of a young Jon Pelham, Ahtanum State Forest is still a mecca for butterflies both in diversity and abundance of species. On the ecotone between shrub-steppe and low elevation forest, it supports a remarkable number of butterfly species. In late June, WBA members who attend our annual conference in Yakima will get to see the summer butterfly diversity of this place. But if you would like to see the spring multitudes of Oak Duskywings, Pine Elfins, Orange Tips, Blues and many others, you are welcome to join me this coming Friday for a spring preview of Ahtanum State Forest, which is about 20 miles SSW of Yakima. It is a gentle field trip centered on a forest road with mini diversions to nearby sites. We will see shrub steppe and open forest spring butterflies. Even if you don't leave your car, you will see butterflies!