Detailed review by 1krispy1
1krispy1(62)
Broomfield, USA96%
In this case the meaning of "Butterflies are free" means the butterflies are free to flutter about this tropical rainforest to their hearts content for the two weeks that they normally live. Typically insect lifecycles are about 28 days in length. In this case the residents get to live the last half of their life in paradise. Albeit an artificial one as this paradise is in the middle of the semi-arid high plains of Colorado. It is a long way indeed from the tropical rainforest of their genesis just two weeks previous.
The Butterfly Pavilion annually spends about £40,000 on chrysalises from the tropics each year. These are purchased from farms specifically designed for the purpose. This helps to support local economies in underdeveloped parts of the world. Shipments arrive daily. The chrysalises' finish their development in a special "hatching box" from which they are gathered by the staff and released twice daily. This typically happens at 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM each day.
There are butterflies in Colorado naturally. However they are pale compared to the denizens of the Butterfly Pavilion. It was amazing. I submitted some photographs to attempt to show some examples. One of the most spectacular does not look like it is spectacular at all. This specimen was about the size of my open hand. The upper wing surfaces were a magnificent iridescent blue. They were just too quick to catch one in flight. The photograph submitted shows one at rest with the wings in the upright position. It is interesting to note the "eyes" on the under surface of the wings. This is used as a defense system against predators but disguises the spectacular blue of the upper wing surface.
Aside from these examples there were a variety of reds, blues, blacks and grays on the varied species of butterflies. One is able to watch these creatures gather nectar from a wide variety of plants in the rainforest.
The temperature inside the room was 82 F and was very humid. Outside it was barely in the 40's. If one visits in the winter be mindful of this if taking photographs. Lenses tend to get foggy when coming in from the cold due to the rapid change in temperature. Let the camera stabilize before trying to take pictures. Check the lens to make sure it is clean of mist. By all means bring a camera as there is plenty to photograph. This is where one can make the most of the admission fees. I took several circuits of the "forest" taking over a hundred and fifty shots in about an hour. Go slow and check out the plants. The flowers are splendid but more importantly often there are butterflies resting on the foliage. Rushing about watching the flying examples it is easy to miss the resting and feeding ones. Even though it is a fairly large room there are between 1200 1500 individuals in the room. Many of them are tucked into all manner of places inside the foliage areas of the room.
The building is set up so that in the summer time when the Colorado temperature allows the roof can be opened to the fresh air. There are screens to keep the residents from wandering and to keep predators from entering. In winter the roof is kept closed so the temperature stays in the perfect tropical range.
Butterfly Pavilion9
Ratings
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Accessibility
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"Must See"-Factor
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Budget Friendliness
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Architecture
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Concept
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Exhibits
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Relevance
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Accessibility of the Butterfly Pavilion is very good. It is just off US 36 which is the main highway into Boulder from Denver. US 36 is connected to I-25 which in the main highway running through the city of Denver. Exit off the 104th Avenue. Exit turning right (or north) onto 104th Avenue. The Butterfly Pavilion is on the right side of 104th. Turn right at the first main intersection past the exit from the highway.
Most insect zoos that I have seen have been confined to "Mason Jars" or larger terrariums. This facility is purpose designed for the display of Arthropods. It has floor space of 30,000 square feet. It sits on 5 acres of land given to the Pavilion by the City of Westminster. The main display area for the butterflies is a large room filled with tropical plants. There are 1200 1500 butterflies loose in this tropical rainforest at all times.
The cost is such that if one does not spend the time in the room it can be fairly pricey. At £32 for a family of four it can be expensive if the family is only in the pavilion for an hour. On the other hand if one goes in and takes ones time to enjoy the variety and diversity of butterfly colors, sizes and activities it can be well worth the price of admission.
The facility as mentioned above is purpose built to provide the best possible environment for the residents. The ceiling for example is constructed in such a manner that in the summer when the weather permits can be opened to the outside. A separate area is set up for the chrysalises can metamorphose into butterflies safely. These newly emerged insects are released twice a day. There are other rooms that are set up for tide pool creature from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States. Each of these is maintained at different temperatures to best reflect the oceans they represent. The other room is set up for creatures like tarantulas and other spiders. Also creatures like millipedes or centipedes are in this room.
The concept is unique. It was the first facility of its type built in the United States. The thought process here is that it is cheaper to replace the butterflies than the plants. The facility supports renewable butterfly farms in the tropics spending £40,687 annually in underdeveloped regions of the tropics to purchase chrysalises. Average lifespan after emergence is about 2 weeks. New chrysalises arrive daily.
The exhibits are large and varied. The touching of the butterflies is discouraged as the oils on human hands tend to shorten the lifespan significantly. However in the "crawler" sections sometime it is permitted to handle Rosie the Tarantula.
