Author Topic: (NGC) - Monarchs are starting to arrive (Read 3613 times)

Gliderjohn · « **on:** July 26, 2016, 07:36:02 PM »

Always beautiful.

GliderJohn

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2016, 08:01:23 PM »

a Luna Moth visited us at the cabin.

twowings · « **Reply #2 on:** July 26, 2016, 08:03:54 PM »

Plant milkweed!

http://www.livemonarch.com/free-milkweed-seeds.htm

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2016, 10:04:55 PM »

Loony moths are usually bigger than flutterbys. And just as pretty.

Rich A · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2016, 10:06:05 PM »

We have hummingbirds--fascinating animals!

Rich A

Gliderjohn · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2016, 06:53:16 AM »

Yea, hummingbirds are really cool.

leafman60 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2016, 06:55:13 AM »

"Monarchs are starting to arrive"

I thought somebody was bringing out the old Matchless line of motorcycles again!

On the migrating butterflies-

My understanding is that the trend of dwindling numbers has rebounded lately.

lucydad · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2016, 08:19:36 AM »

Yes, we have had some also here in Sugar Land. New villa backyard is yet to be landscaped. But, some milkweed hitchhiked in Ms. LD's vast array of potted tropical plants. They are thriving and the monarchs have been laying eggs. We plan on planting another large butterfly garden this fall. Love these critters.

twhitaker · « **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2016, 09:37:48 AM »

Did you know that butterflies taste with their feet?

My wife has been into them since she was a kid and has quite a collection of butterflies posted onto the walls of our home.

Dean Rose · « **Reply #9 on:** July 27, 2016, 09:50:03 AM »

Quote from: twhitaker on July 27, 2016, 09:37:48 AM

Did you know that butterflies taste with their feet?

My wife has been into them since she was a kid and has quite a collection of butterflies posted onto the walls of our home.

That's the reason they don't wear shoes.

Dean

twhitaker · « **Reply #10 on:** July 27, 2016, 10:05:07 AM »

"Dance like a butterfly. Sting like a bee."

Dean Rose · « **Reply #11 on:** July 27, 2016, 10:17:49 AM »

Quote from: twhitaker on July 27, 2016, 10:05:07 AM

"Dance like a butterfly. Sting like a bee."

That's what I do when I go out in the yard barefooted to feed the birds and step on a bee.

Dean

twhitaker · « **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2016, 01:04:55 PM »

She had the net and a jar with a cotton ball soaked in chloroform. We have a lot of butterfly attractants planted in our yard.

twhitaker · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2016, 01:06:27 PM »

Quote from: lucydad on July 27, 2016, 08:19:36 AM

Yes, we have had some also here in Sugar Land. New villa backyard is yet to be landscaped. But, some milkweed hitchhiked in Ms. LD's vast array of potted tropical plants. They are thriving and the monarchs have been laying eggs. We plan on planting another large butterfly garden this fall. Love these critters.

Noguzznoglory · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2016, 07:17:25 PM »

Monarchs migrate through fla panhandle in October. I've read they go to Mexico

LowRyter · « **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2016, 09:44:28 PM »

Had a swarm of 4 hummingbirds fighting over the feeder when it was 100 outside.

charlie b · « **Reply #16 on:** July 27, 2016, 10:05:19 PM »

We used to feed the hummingbirds. First year one feeder. By the end of the season they'd empty it in a day. Next year we put up two. They would last a day. Third year we put up four. We'd have so many it was dangerous to go out on the porch. We counted over 30 one morning. Got hit a couple of times by dogfighting HBs. Wife got tired of making a couple gallons of 'juice' every day so no more.

The Rio Grande valley is a major bird migration route.

Jabo911 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 27, 2016, 11:11:13 PM »

Went this past February to Mexico with my wife to see some of the monarch wintering sites. The butterflies overwinter in oyamel fir trees at 9,000-10,000’ elevation. We saw tens of thousands in the trees, flying in the warm afternoon sun and many dead and weak ones on the ground. While I’m married to a third generation monarch raiser (She goes to areas that local business cut their fields, collects the eggs and caterpillars, raises them, then releases them back to nature) I thought I had seen everything regarding the monarchs. But I was in awe at the sight of so many butterflies in one place.

Just a few days after we left Mexico, the areas we were in received a 24” late Winter storm and it’s estimated that 50-70% of those that were still there were killed. I don’t follow the tracking of the monarchs like the wife does but I do know that in my part of Ohio, we have only seen one or two so far this year. This time last year we had Mason jars filled with caterpillars.

The clusters you see in the trees are thousands of monarchs

Close up of one of the clusters

Jim

twhitaker · « **Reply #18 on:** July 28, 2016, 06:45:41 AM »

Amazing pictures and a major thumbs up for your wife.

My wife has been doing her part, too.

Some of the Monarchs winter along the California coast. We are taking vacation there this winter to see them.

JJ · « **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2016, 08:14:00 AM »

I once read that the life span of butterflies is only about 3 weeks. Beautiful little creatures!

We will be attending an international Hummingbird Festival here in Sedona this weekend. Will take photos.

Nature is always awe inspiring to me....at all levels!

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Author Topic: (NGC) - Monarchs are starting to arrive (Read 3613 times)

twowings

lucydad