Butterfly Kaleidoscope on mountain tops

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hiker russ
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Butterfly Kaleidoscope on mountain tops

Post by hiker russ » July 15th, 2018, 1:02 pm

Saw these butterfly kaleidoscopes/swams on two mountain tops recently.

I think they are California tortoiseshell.

There were thousands & thousands.

Quite an experience!
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retired jerry
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Re: Butterfly Kaleidoscope on mountain tops

Post by retired jerry » July 15th, 2018, 1:45 pm

same thing on Three Sisters, above 6000 feet or so

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Chip Down
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Re: Butterfly Kaleidoscope on mountain tops

Post by Chip Down » July 15th, 2018, 7:03 pm

Oh, that's interesting. I saw that a lot last summer on Hood, and again yesterday (my only Hood trip so far this year), but presumably much higher than your pictures. I'm thinking they start maybe around 7000', reach peak around 8000', taper off but still evident around 9000+'. Were yours flying in a particular direction in unison, or more of a random chaotic swarm? (mine seem to have a plan, not random)

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hiker russ
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Re: Butterfly Kaleidoscope on mountain tops

Post by hiker russ » July 15th, 2018, 9:29 pm

The photos of the single sitting butterflys were just under 6000 feet. The flying butterflys were at 7200.

They seem to mostly fly in one direction for awhile. Then later they would be flying the opposite direction.....

Darting and swooping rather than steady....

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adamschneider
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Re: Butterfly Kaleidoscope on mountain tops

Post by adamschneider » July 15th, 2018, 9:55 pm

They were on the summit of Strawberry Mountain (9000') last week too. They never sat still for a photo.

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CampinCarl
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Re: Butterfly Kaleidoscope on mountain tops

Post by CampinCarl » July 16th, 2018, 7:14 am

Backpacked to Pamelia Lake on June 30th - July 1st and there were tons hanging out on the exposed shore. They would swarm but also sit still. My daughter was enamored with them! Thanks for the ID.

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adamschneider
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Re: Butterfly Kaleidoscope on mountain tops

Post by adamschneider » July 16th, 2018, 8:28 am

Here's a 2017 Bend Bulletin article about last year's California tortoiseshell outbreak:
https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate ... -in-orange

And a silly little 2018 article from the Bend weekly paper:
https://www.bendsource.com/bend/butterf ... id=6648515

They're exploding in California too:
https://www.ptreyeslight.com/article/to ... ches-coast

chrisca
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Re: Butterfly Kaleidoscope on mountain tops

Post by chrisca » July 17th, 2018, 12:45 pm

Yes, they are California Tortoiseshells, known to have periodic population explosions. The behavior is called hilltopping, believed to be involved in mate-seeking. By flying uphill to a hilltop, the butterflies can collectively boost the chances of finding a mate. Many butterfly species do this, but tortoiseshells are most noticed because there are so many in peak years.

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hiker russ
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Re: Butterfly Kaleidoscope on mountain tops

Post by hiker russ » July 17th, 2018, 7:12 pm

Thanks Chrisca for the hilltopping info. The scenic photos are of south side of Olallie Butte at about elevation 7200. There were times when they were flying up slope, but mostly they were flying across slope, say to the east then later to the west. We noticed that they hardly ever landed, is that meaningful?

The closeup photos are just off the summit of Bachelor Mounaion, near Coffin Mountain. They were in a more treed area and they were landing all over, rock, bushes, trees, and the hiking trail itself..... And is that meaningful?

Is it likely they will be out at the same time and place next year?

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