Reprint from the Progress Times - October 5, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

No walk in the park
Butterfly festival brings serious science to nature lovers

 

In its 12th year, the Annual Butterfly Festival, October 18-21, has brought over 10 well-known speakers in the conservation community down to the Valley to give the largest series of seminars in the festival’s history.

Held in Mission, part of the most biologically diverse region in the United States as four ecosystems converge in the four county area of the Rio Grande Valley, the festival boasts a chance to see over 300 species of butterflies and 512 different species of birds.

Seminars will be held throughout the four-day event.

Drs. John and Gloria Tveten, freelance naturalists, writers and photographers, will be giving a talk on the butterfly’s close relative, the moth. The Tvetens will be speaking about how moths far outnumber butterflies in both quantity and diversity and how their ecological importance is only now being understood.

Dr. Joshua Rose, who received his Ph.D from Duke University studying dragonfly ecology, will be giving a talk on the study and pursuit of dragonflies and how it is fast-becoming one of the most popular nature quests in the U.S.

A whirlwind tour of Mexico will be given by Dr. Jeff Glassberg who will be talking about the amazing diversity of brilliantly colored butterflies as well as the scenic vistas and warm cultural distinctiveness of the people of Mexico.

Dale Clark, a professional butterfly farmer out of the Dallas area, will be giving an entertaining look at the business of butterflies with his talk entitled, "Butterfly Farming: Raising Butterflies for the Exhibit Industry or Up to My Ankles in Caterpillar Frass."

For those interested in a more personal and local perspective, Gil Quintanilla, nature photographer and butterfly enthusiast, will be giving a talk on the specialty butterflies of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Those are just a few of the many seminars and talks being offered at the Butterfly Festival and are just a few reasons why Veronica Jackson, Tourism Coordinator for the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce, is so excited about this year’s event.

"We’re expecting around 200 to 250 participants this year, and that’s not counting the children," said Jackson. "We have people coming in from as far as Canada and Washington. It’s crazy. This promotes the city so much. We have such awesome parks and natural areas."

Not settling on just a bunch of lectures, the Butterfly Festival is also offering eight different field trips that will take participants through specific areas that will highlight the Valley’s unique ecosystem.

The Easter Valley trip will take visitors through Cameron County’s top butterfly destination, Sabal Palm Audubon Center, the Western Valley trip offers an expedition into the Scrub-wilderness of Starr County. The Mid Valley trip samples several Valley butterfly garden "hot spots" around Hidalgo County.

A trip is also planned to Bentsen State Park and the NABA Butterfly Park. This conservation complex is the future home of the World Birding Center Headquarters and has a wonderful butterfly garden and many trails to explore.

The festival is also offering a trip to Edinburg’s own World Birding Center site. With four acres of butterfly gardens, its almost impossible not to see something spectacular.

Not to be outdone, dragonflies will be having their own trek when Bob Behrstock takes participants on an expedition along area canal banks, lakes and rivers.

If you’d prefer to stay out of the sun, a night time Black-Lighting at La Lomita is also planned where participants will have a chance to see moths and other nocturnal creatures with the aid of black-lights.

Anyone interested in these events or any of the other wonderful things the Butterfly Festival has planned for this year is encouraged to call the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce at 585-2727 with information on tour times, events and registration.