Bitterroot Outdoor Journal - Make a 'Wildlife Rainbow'

After a rain shower in the Bitterroot, there's often a rainbow. But on hot, dry days you need to create your own - using different plants and animals from all around us.
Bob Danley has examples of each color -

Red - Cinnamon Teal duck, Brown Elfin butterfly, Harsh Indian Paintbrush.

Orange - Rufous Hummingbird, Hoary Comma butterfly, Miner's Lettuce (leaves).

Yellow - Yellow Warbler, Mourning Cloak butterfly (wing edge), Arrowleaf Balsamroot.

Green - Lewis Woodpecker (glossed green), Green Comma butterfly, Prairie Smoke.

Blue - Blue-winged Teal, Spring Azure butterfly, Sagebrush Bluebells (see photo below).

Indigo - Western Bluebird, Western White (body), Sand Violet.

Violet - Black-chinned Hummingbird, Hoary Elfin butterfly, Little Larkspur

So far this year in the area: 187 bird species in Missoula County and 159 bird species in the Bitterroot. Bob has identified 11 species of butterflies as the weather warms. And the wildflowers - they're all over the place!

Sagebrush Bluebells. (Bob Danley photo)

Categories: Missoula News

Bitterroot Outdoor Journal – Make a ‘Wildlife Rainbow’