On Saturday, June 25, 13 members and friends of the Austin Butterfly Forum met in the parking lot of the Zilker Butterfly Garden for our annual attempt to count all the butterflies in a 15 mile diameter circle while avoiding heat stroke. The circle is centered on Mt. Bonnell and includes almost all of the hot spots in the city.
These counts are patterned on the famous Christmas Bird Counts. We had old and new faces. Everyone was eager, but I wondered what in the world we would be able to find on the heels of one of the driest Junes ever in Austin.
Sally Breed had scouted the garden the day before and she spent the entire morning at the butterfly garden. The rest of us visited Zilker Botanical Garden; the Barton Creek Greenbelt at Barton Springs and 360; St. Edward's Park; Lower Bull Creek; and Wild Basin. We met for lunch at Schlotzsky’s, and then a few of us continued until the afternoon.
We outdid ourselves by finding 52 species in Austin and 320 individuals. This is a record number of species for the count. Buttonbushes were the main nectar source at all of the sites. Polydamas Swallowtails were at the butterfly garden, undoubtedly releases from the batch that Marvin raises in the greenhouse. There were three adults and one caterpillar of the Laviana White-Skipper, a butterfly that was formerly rare. Zebra Longwings were common along the creeks. Two California Sisters were found on the greenbelt. A gorgeous male Zabulon Skipper was right beside the path at St. Edward’s Park.
Sites visited: Zilker Botanical Garden; Barton Creek Greenbelt at Barton Springs and 360; St. Edward's Park; Lower Bull Creek; Wild Basin.
Total species: 52
Individuals: 320 adults
Participants: Lauren Bauer, Sally Breed, Jackie Davis, Dan Hardy, Shelia Hargis, Cheryl Hazeltine, Mary Holland, John Kelly, Kay Kitzmiller, Marvin Lewis, Joe Lapp, Mike Quinn, and Bill Riener.
(Compiled by Dan Hardy)