Joann Merritt's Essays

“Tanks” For The Memories
October, 1996

I have been butter flying but until October 17, 1996, I had never seen butter flying! After witnessing a migration of mostly yellow butterflies I realized that this lepidopteron family is appropriately named.

Early that morning as we arrived at Harris’ tank a Great Blue Heron flew from its breakfast buffet of fish and frogs. Dozens of small birds were bathing at the north edge of the tank under the protective buttonbush. We were delighted to see the Ground Dove that Rose Marie had found there on the 12th. This 178th species for Harris’ Tank was perched in The Dead Tree with two Inca Doves. This sighting alone made it a great day.

Among the 35 species of birds we found were Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned and Nashville Warblers, six species of winter sparrows, Pine Siskin, Dickcissel and the ever-present and ever-beautiful Vermilion Flycatchers. It was peaceful and quiet at the tank until a pilot flying low to check a nearby pipeline scattered all the birds.

We then walked around the orchard finding 16 species of butterflies. When we returned to the tank we heard the first fall flight of Sandhill Cranes uttering their throaty calls from high overhead. As we “binoculared” the sky searching for the cranes our attention quickly turned to the yellow and white butterflies which were drifting and fluttering across our field of view. They resembled gold and silver snowflakes spangling the blue West Texas sky as they were carried aloft on the north wind. Why and where they were traveling is left to the imagination as I have not read any accounts of this phenomenon. Perhaps an overpopulation in the alfalfa fields caused the Orange Sulphers and Clouded Sulphurs (whose females are white) to disperse as did the Snouts in South Texas this year. Or could this October migration have included Sleepy Oranges and Checkered Whites looking for new nectar sources and warmer climes?

I don’t know the reason they were traveling south nor their destination but I do know that this flight resulted in a spectacular event for Don and me as we sighted these ethereal yellow and white butterflies seemingly embraced by the sky over Harris’ Ranch. We watched intermittently, as our necks would permit, for two hours. I also felt embraced by the sky and nature although I didn’t have the wings to fly up to greet the sky as the birds and butterflies did.

MIDNATS, you can believe that my spirit was winging it right up there with them! Thanks, Harris’ Tank, for the memories.