by P.D. Hulce, Count Compiler

The Second Annual Brazos Bend Butterfly Count was held under the auspices of the North American Butterfly Association and sponsored by the Houston Audubon Society.

On June 22nd, 1996, Brazos Bend State Park was hot and dry, despite having enjoyed afternoon rains during the previous week. Twenty observers, one more than last year, showed up to participate in this exciting new count, and also to see if the drought had left any butterflies around to count! We divided up into 3 groups and headed out for various areas in the park. My group walked from the interpretive center to Hale Lake, around the lake, and back by a different route. One of the first butterflies we saw, the Gemmed Satyr, was a lifer for me, and just as inconspicuous as a rare trogon, blending into its background. Every grassy field and pasture was covered with Little Sulphurs, Checkered Skippers, and Pearl Crescents. The deadend trail at Hale Lake had a number of large flashy species including 3 Orange-Sulphurs and 3 Variegated Fritillaries. Walking back along the road, a lovely spread of frogfruit had attracted a number of small butterflies, such as Phaon Crescents, Least Skippers, Whirlabout, and Eufala Skippers. During the morning, we got excellent looks at such interesting skippers as Southern Cloudywing and Juvenal's Duskywing.

At about 12:15, as we were heading back for a picnic lunch and countdown, it clouded over and began lightly raining. We did a hasty, and rather wet, countdown and obtained the following results. The number of total individuals seen, 376, decreased slightly from last year's 392. The species count, however, increased to 37, including 13 species not seen last year. This brings the checklist for the park up to 44, not too bad for only two days of counting.

Thanks to all of the leaders and participants, and I hope to see all of you again next year. Next year's count will be on either June 21 or 28, 1997.

The First Annual High Island Butterfly Count will be held on Saturday, July the 13th, 1996. Meet at the bleachers at Boy Scout Woods between 7 and 7:30 am. For more information, contact: P. D. Hulce, (713)863-1142; pd@chiricahuanaturalist.net

Participants included:

Don Albertie, Erin Allice, Margaret Allice, Judy Boyce, Jan Downing, Jose Hernandez, Bob Honig, Maggie Honig, P. D. Hulce, Joyce Kelly, Fay Meek, Kathy Merritt, Melinda Parmer, Janet Rathjen, Cynthia Schultz, Beth Stoy, Katie Stoy, Lynda Stoy, and Sandra E. West.

Butterflies around the Web A Butterfly Checklist from John and Gloria Tveten's new book: Butterflies of Houston and Southeast Texas Results of the High Island Butterfly Count, July 1996 Results of the Brazos Bend State Park Butterfly Count, June, 1996 Subscribe to a mailing/discussion list about butterflies to LISTSERV@YALEVM.CIS.YALE.EDU with the message SUBSCRIBE LEPS-L The Butterfly Site A Butterfly Checklist from Charlie Sassine of butterflies seen at Hans Suter Wildlife Area near Corpus Christi The Butterfly Guide Texas Monarch Watch SE Arizona butterflies First Colony Middle School Home Page Electronic Resources on Lepidoptera Butterflies: National Biological Services Monarch Watch Butterflies of Texas Butterflies on the Internet. Internet resources for lepidopterists Lepidopterists' Society Home Page: moths, butterflies