Butterflies At The Bosque

By John Bertrand
Friends Of The Bosque

The hot days of June bring out a kaleidoscope of colorful butterflies, and there may be no better place to observe them than Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
To sweeten this opportunity, Steve Cary, Chief Naturalist for New Mexico’s State Parks and author of the newly published Butterfly Landscapes of New Mexico, will stage a public “lepidopportunity” at Bosque del Apache Saturday morning, June 19.
The event begins at 9:30 a.m. with an hour-long butterfly walk led by Cary on the Marsh Trail, limited to the first 30 people to call 575-835-1828 to reserve. The field walk is followed by an illustrated lecture and book signing open to everyone beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the visitor center.
New Mexico has more than 300 different kinds of butterflies, Cary notes in the introduction to his handsome new book; only Arizona and Texas have more. A list prepared by Cary several years ago for Bosque del Apache identifies 124 species in Socorro County. Participants in Cary’s June 19 Marsh Trail butterfly walk [a leisurely amble of one and a half miles: wear a shade hat, apply sunscreen and insect repellant] can expect to find a representative selection.
Butterfly Landscapes is more than a field identification guide to butterflies; it’s a travel companion, blanketing New Mexico and its myriad terrains which host butterflies. Interspersed throughout the basic text covering habitat and viewing tips are short essays featuring historical highlights and local butterfly lore.
The book is illustrated with Cary’s photographs of butterflies in their settings and surrounding landscapes. Copies of the book may be purchased in The Bosque Nature Store at the visitor center.

Picture: The Sara Orangetip male, although not a local species, will be featured in illustrated butterfly lecture by Steve Cary Saturday, Jun. 19, at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.

Photo by Steve Cary

Butterflies At The Bosque