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About Applegater. (Jacksonville, OR) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2019)
Applegater Summer 2019 13 BIRD EXPLORER The Raven The Raven is a very charismatic species and may be the most successful b i rd o n t h e p l a n e t . Common in the West, it can be found in cities, the country, and wild places from the Mexican border to the arctic. In places like Yellowstone National Park, Ravens sometimes gather on carrion in large numbers, alerting bears, wolves, coyotes, and foxes that easily obtainable food, such as roadkills or large mammal carcasses, is available. In old Norse mythology Ravens appear as mystical birds transcending natural boundaries. Odin, one of the principal Norse gods, had a pair of Ravens, described as very intelligent. Their existence in these tales of the far north illustrates the success of this species to live in almost any environment. However, Ravens have now become rare in Europe. Here in the Applegate Valley, Ravens are everywhere. I have a pair nesting in a large Douglas fir tree on my land. During courtship they have been performing spectacular aerial displays; now they are often patrolling their home territory. With all the Raven activity in the air over my land, I am somewhat concerned about thistle, phlox, and many other native species of plants. Males will mud-puddle to gather important nutrients. I have fond memories of a time a friend and I tried to outsmart this species of swallowtail while trying to net some for observation. They were so fast we tried driving ahead of them as they flew down the roads. Then we would stop, jump out of the car, and try to net them as they flew past us. Although it was challenging and fun and might have worked a time or two, it wasn’t a practice we kept doing. Enjoy these beauties this summer even on a shady creek road! Pale Tiger Swallowtail The Pale Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) is also in the Papilionidae family of butterflies. It is a large butterfly with a wingspread of up to three inches. It is very white to creamy white with black stripes and a broad black border with blue and red-orange caudal (near the tail) markings. The Pale Tiger Swallowtail can be seen in flight from mid-April to October, with the peak of its flight period April through July. It frequents open woodlands, foothills, chaparral, streamsides, ocean habitats, canyons, or any other spot with flowering shrubs and plants from sea level to higher mountains. Its range is from British Columbia to Baja California and mountain regions to New Mexico. Host plants for this swallowtail are mainly buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus), snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus), and other mountain shrubs. Males perch in trees on the lookout for females. Females lay eggs singly on the host plant’s leaves. This species will produce one generation. The pupae hibernate over winter months. Adults will nectar on flowers of yerba santa, Columbia lily, chokecherr y, penstemons, and many other native plants. They will use garden favorites such as zinnias and sweet Williams, and they will visit sprinklers for waterdrops. Males will mud- puddle, often with other species of swallowtails. Once while scouting in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness for a route for the Siskiyou Field Institute butterfly class, I saw a Pale Tiger Swallowtail on a ceanothus plant next to the road. It stayed there only briefly, but long enough for me to walk almost right up to it to get a look. That was when I discovered why it was allowing me to approach for a couple of seconds: she was laying an egg. Pale Tiger Swallowtails are wonderful butterflies. Though they are large, their flight is graceful and strong. Linda Kappen humbugkapps@hotmail.com BY PETER J. THIEMANN A tale of two tigers BY LINDA KAPPEN Western Tiger Swallowtail The Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) is in the butterfly family Papilionidae. It is a large butterfly with a wingspread of up to 3.5 inches. The Papilio rutulus is bright yellow with a broad black border, black tiger stripes on its wings, and two large tails. With its wings open it displays metallic blue spots with orange crescents on the margin above the tails. This butterfly can be seen, gliding and flying swiftly, on roadways next to creeks and rivers from mid-April through September. During this time it is fun to walk on country roads that follow creeks in wooded areas and watch the males patrol up and down the corridors looking for females, who fly higher in the wooded canopies. Some favorite habitats are flower gardens, parks, and canyons. Its range is western North America, from British Columbia to Baja California and east to New Mexico and Colorado. In southern Oregon two or more broods per season are possible. Host plants are broad-leaved trees such as big- leaf maples, willows, aspens, and black cottonwoods. Females lay eggs singly on host plants. The caterpillars feed on the leaves. The pupae overwinter and emerge in the spring. Adults seek nectar from blackberries, sweet William, rhododendron, native the nesting songbirds there, a s R a v e n s a re known to raid the songbirds’ nests. Peter J. Thiemann So it is important not to encourage the Raven species to overpopulate our environments by controlling garbage stored outside and reducing litter on our roadways and in city parking lots. Birds thrive best when living on natural food sources, and that includes the beautiful black Common Raven. Peter J. Thiemann peterjthiemann@yahoo.com Photo courtesy of peterjthiemann flickr photo stream. Western Tiger Swallowtail Pale Tiger Swallowtail Note: If you would like to learn more about our region’s butterflies and moths, Siskiyou Field Institute is offering a course, Introduction to Butterflies and Moths of the Siskiyous, on June 14 - 16. For more information, call 541-597-8530 or visit thesfi.org. Photos by Linda Kappen. 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