Butterfly Walks in the Rio Grande Valley

What this episode covers

Blue Metalmark: This beautiful blue butterfly is often spotted in the butterfly garden at Resaca de la Palma State Park, and is one of the butterflies that makes the site unique. This is Passport to Texas Butterflies…. They flit. They flutter. And, Resaca de la Palma State Park is one of the best places to witness their flight. The Rio Grande valley is one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world. Kelly Ann Cummins is a Park Ranger Interpreter at Resaca de la Palma State Park. She says, we’re fortunate as that level of diversity is what attracts and provides habitat for a lot of our interesting animals both insects, butterflies and wildlife. Kelly says the park will see about 150 butterfly species during the year. A total of 300 are either residential or will migrate through the Rio Grande valley annually. Coming here is a spoil of riches. Like some of the rarest butterfly types in north America you see them in parking lots, you see them in city parks, you see them in this park. A great way for folks to learn more, to be more engaged with what they are seeing is to come to a program. The best time to go on a butterfly walk, says Kelly, is generally the afternoon. The later in the afternoon, the better. It’s a mellow activity and gives visitors the chance to focus and enjoy the beauty of being surrounded by maybe a couple thousand butterflies. But, it’s an opportunity to check in with the natural world and bet to enjoy the riches from the Rio Grande valley. For more information, go to our website and search: Resaca de la Palma State Park. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.