Birds & Butterflies of the Canadian Rockies

Trip Information

Date: July 21 - 26, 2006

Duration: 6 days

Leader: Norbert Kondla

Price: $1350 USD, $1575 CDN, Singles add $235 USD, $275 CDN

From: Calgary, Alberta

Highlights:
• Excellent butterflies in superb surroundings - locating high elevation butterflies in an alpine and subalpine environment is simply exhilarating
• Many range-restricted species at the height of their flying time
• Our leader, Norbert Kondla, is a renowned lepidopterist and knows the area well

Featured Butterflies and Birds:
• Smintheus Parnassian
• Alberta Fritillary
• Zerene Fritillary
• Melissa Arctic
• White-tailed Ptarmigan
• Clark’s Nutcracker
• Gray-crowned Rosy-finch
• Townsend’s Solitaire

Tour Summary
• Mostly short, easy walking; some moderate walking on mountain trails at high elevations
• Warm pleasant weather; could be chilly on the mountain tops
• Good quality accommodation
• Maximum of 8 people with one leader, 12 people with two leaders
• 15-passenger vans
• Five breakfasts and four lunches

In this tour we incorporate midsummer birding in the Rockies with the diverse populations of butterflies on the alpine meadows and montane forests of this part of Alberta. In midsummer, mountain meadows are carpeted with wildflowers and alive with butterflies such as Boloria alberta, Boloria astarte, Colias nastes, Colias meadii, Lycaena cuprea, Lycaena phlaeas, Chlosyne damoetas, Oeneis melissa. There will be plenty of others available as well. Birds can be conspicuous in mid-July, including White-tailed Ptarmigan, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, American Pipit, Varied Thrush, Clark’s Nutcracker and Gray Jay. There will be plenty of large mammals as well, such as Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Moose, Mule and White-tailed Deer, and maybe a distant Grizzly Bear. Our leader, Norbert Kondla, is a renowned lepidopterist.

See below for a detailed itinerary

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Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Calgary
Our tour starts after supper.

Day 2 - Limestone Mountain
The Alberta Rockies offer varied and spectacular scenery. In midsummer, mountain meadows are carpeted with wildflowers and alive with butterflies - fritillaries, blues and sulphurs. Birds are conspicuous as they care for their young, and mammals are highly visible. Night in Sundre.

Day 3 - Peter Lougheed PP, Kananaskis
Night in Longview

Day 4 - Plateau Mountain
Butterflying is always exhilarating in the alpine tundra. We’ll look especially for Smintheus Parnassian, Mead’s and Nastes Sulphurs, Alberta and Astarte fritillaries, Chryxus and Melissa arctics as well as Lustrous and Little coppers. Our target birds are species like White-tailed Ptarmigan, Gray-crowned Rosy finch, American Dipper, Townsend’s Solitaire, in other words the mountain specialties. Mountain Goats, Bighorn Sheep and Elk also occur at these higher elevations, as well as Hoary Marmot and Pika.We’ll also spend time in high-elevation spruce-fir forest and wildflower meadows looking for Zerene, Mormon, and Bog Fritillaries and Northern Blue. Night in Longview.

Day 5 - Hailstone Pass
Drive in p.m. back to Calgary

Day 6 - Calgary
Our tour ends after breakfast.

What to expect

In summer, the high-altitude sun is intense, making a broad-brimmed hat and sun block necessary. There are no long strenuous walks planned, and most walks will be slow and leisurely. We will be primarily along well-maintained trails, wandering off in chase of a target species once in a while. Sturdy footwear is recommended. We will be at high elevations, hence the weather may be cool and participants should dress accordingly. Most mornings will start early, when we look for birds before the heat of the day sets in. Then we will shift towards butterflies as the day warms up. The weather will be mainly warm and pleasant, with only a small chance of rain; it will be cool at higher elevations. Bring lots of film - photographic opportunities could be excellent. Each evening, the list of butterflies, birds and other wildlife will be reviewed, and plans for the next day will be discussed.

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