The Pend Oreille River watershed is home to diverse montane forest and wildlife communities; there are mosaics of conifer forest, riparian thickets, and open meadows with streams, small lakes, and marshes.

On Saturday we explored the high-elevation North Baldy area, at over 6,000’. North Baldy is famous for open, spectacularly-flowered meadows, stretching for nearly two miles along the ridgeline. Lupine, paintbrush, buckwheat, asters, and many other wildflowers were blooming there.

Sunday we went to Hog Lake west of Spokane.

Click here for the unofficial list of the species we saw on Saturday and Sunday near Newport.

Videos provided by Al Wagar of the conference.
Vimeo (usually best resolution but picky about computer speed).
Youtube plays smoothly on most computers)

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Friday, July 15

Pend Oreille Playhouse
6:30 - 7:30 pm
Registration and refreshments

7:30 - 8:30 pm
"Butterflying in Pend Oreille and Spokane Counties: Species to Look for and How to Identify Them"
For the Friday evening program, the WBA-east varsity team of John Baumann, Carol Mack, and others will present photos of butterflying spots in the area of the conference, photos of butterflies we might see, and facts about the area including geology, habitat, history, and other interesting tidbits.

Saturday, July 16

Playhouse Parking Lot
8:30 am
Meet for an all-day field trip
Saturday’s field trip is planned for North Baldy, approximately 2 hours north of Newport. If meeting at Usk would be more convenient, you can meet us there at approximately 9:15:

Texaco Gas Station (and convenience store)
111 5th St (to the left of Kings Lake Road just before the Usk Bridge).

8:30 am - 4:30 pm
All-day field trip

Pend Oreille Playhouse
6:00 pm
Social Time
6:30 pm
Dinner
7:30 pm
Short business meeting including election of officers

7:45 pm
"Inland Empire - Lepidoptera and Lepidopterists"

The keynote speaker on Saturday evening is Jon Shepard, Lepidopterist from Nelson, BC. Jon will give us an historic view of butterfly research in the northeastern Washington, northwestern Idaho and Canadian areas. As author of the acclaimed Butterflies of British Columbia, he will share fascinating information about local butterflies.

Sunday, July 17

Playhouse Parking Lot
8:30 am
Meet for a half-day field trip
Sunday’s field trip is planned for Hog Lake, approximately one hour west of Spokane. Rather than driving to the Playhouse and then back-tracking, you can meet us at approximately 9:30:

Conoco gas station on the north side of the Geiger Blvd Freeway exit, #276, from I-90.

8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Half-day field trip