Western Tiger Swallowtail, Just in Time for #PollinatorWeek
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I found out yesterday through Instagram that this week, June 21-27, is Pollinator Week. Around the world, this week is used to celebrate and educate about the importance of pollinators, many of which are declining or disappearing altogether.
Then last night, during dinner, I spotted a new pollinator in our garden—this Western Tiger Swallowtail. I dashed outside mid-conversation to grab a shot. (My poor family and housemates: one second I’m there, the next I’m not.) [Update: I took more photos of the butterfly when it came back the next day (see below).]
As I mentioned a few days ago, we’ve been intentional as a household about making our property hospitable to pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. We’ve planted more native plants (though the rose campions in this photo aren’t native to the Pacific Northwest), added a couple water features, and avoided the use of pesticides. It’s always a delight to see some of those efforts start to pay off.
Have you found ways to attract pollinators to your yard? I’d love to hear more.
Location: The Oregon Garden
Exposure: 1/1250 second, f/6.3, ISO 2000
Focal Length: 500 mm
Gear:
Camera: Nikon D850
Lens: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR