Butterfly Puddling

Rocks on the trail ahead mark an intermittent stream crossing; approach damp areas anywhere along the trail slowly and quietly and watch for butterflies puddling - slurping up nutrients from the ground. Puddling butterflies are usually males gathering nutrients that are passed to the female during mating to be used for egg development.

Spring Azures overwinter as a chrysalis and are one of the first butterflies to emerge from the pupal stage in spring as early as the first week of March.

photo credits: Donna Brunet. Used by permission. All rights reserved.