In November 2015, this old lady and her bus pass left England to boldly go where she had never been before...Atlanta and San Francisco.
I knew I would never see Monarchs in their millions (sadly reduced from billions) in their Mexican winter quarters, but hoped for just a few in California.
I wrote this for Argus, the Yorkshire Butterfly Conservation Society magazine after my adventure.
“She had tears in her eyes,” my friend told the Ranger at Ardenwood Monarch Sanctuary, near San Francisco.
I had long held the dream to see Monarchs, along with a whale swimming safely in the sea, the Grand Canyon, Milky Way, Northern lights...
The first insect, lying cold on the ground under a tree, was a revelation of colour and size – and also a photographic opportunity not be missed before the Ranger moved him to a warmer spot.
One was wonderful; seeing dozens flitting high among the Eucalypts, not native to America but much loved by Monarchs as they provide the necessary micro-climate and a winter nectar source, was incredible.
And then we were taken into the grove...
Countless Monarchs hanging in clusters looking like a paint by numbers kit.
I had experienced the 1996 Painted Lady irruption, but I have never seen anything like this, layer upon layer of butterflies roosting in the trees.
Astonishing as Ardenwood Farm was, it was even better when we went to Pacific Grove, Monterey.
Huge beds of big white daisies, full of nectaring insects. Pines and Eucalypts dripping with Monarchs resembling orange, cream, black & white Wisteria blossoms.
The western Monarch doesn't have the amazing migration of his east of the Rockies cousins, measuring his miles in hundreds rather than thousands, but his journey and safe overwintering is no less special. His numbers are also fewer, measured in thousands not millions.
Sadly, both populations face the same threats, and numbers have dramatically fallen, due to agricultural pesticides, changed farming practices and logging leading to loss of habitat – the usual story.
Despite this, there is hope, just as there is here in Yorkshire, when people power prevails.
Countless individuals are planting native Milkweed in their gardens. Councils are providing safe habitats. There are breeding programs with some insects being marked before release along the Milkweed Highway. Work is under way to restore Milkweed corridors from Canada, through the Midwest to central Mexico, and from the inter-mountain West to coastal California.
The plight of the Monarch has raised public awareness; but this glorious insect is not the only beneficiary. Other insects, the pollinators so essential to OUR lives, are helped too and so therefore are other larger species.
At Pacific Grove, the citizens have refused further development which would encroach on the Monarchs' winter sanctuary. They also happily pay extra taxes to support the habitat. There is a $1000 fine for damaging a butterfly or its environment, strictly enforced by the local police.
I was told by the docents that experts believe they have halted the decline and if the conservation efforts continue, they will reverse the downward trend.
“She STILL has tears in her eyes when she looks at her photographs and remembers...”
Doggie mummy living in ancient York, Yorkshire, England.
Joined 1st Jan 2018
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I take photos, am not a photographer.
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Gorgeous photo! Thoroughly enjoyed your narrative! I love Monarchs! Here in San Antonio we experience the Monarch migration in October...that's when they come through San Antonio on their way to Mexico. Here's a photo I took of a beautiful Monarch last October: https://365project.org/gaylewood/365/2017-10-10
@gaylewood Thank you very much for your very kind comment and wonderful photos.
It's astonishing that only about 40 years have passed since the secret of Monarch migration was discovered. The docent at Pacific Grove said that the Monarch is the only long distance butterfly traveller. I accept that the Canadian born insects have a HUGE journey, but they have a winter holiday in Mexico before they head north. Fewer than 10 years ago, another mystery was solved, that of the Africa to Britain Painted Lady. It was believed they died in Britain. They don't, they go back to Africa! None stop. Single insect. Some have been marked in Africa, trapped in Britain and then in mainland Europe as they head back to Africa...smart little things wait until the wind is right & launch themselves into the air. My husband saw a huge cloud of them heading south in 2009.
Aren't insects wonderful?
j
@shepherdmanswife Thank you very much for the kind comment, welcome and for following my second time around journey (will she do it this time?).
We get a Monarch approximately every 10 years - 2017 was one such!
@shepherdmanswife Sorry yes! The Canadian born Monarch flies to Mexico, over winters, flies to Texas. Dies after breeding. babies fly north, several generations do this until they get to Canada & the cycle repeats. Britain is way off the beaten track, the very few we get are carried by the wind not travelling by choice. We don't have the "infrastructure" for them. There may be an occasional escape from a butterfly house but they can't breed here.
j
@888rachel It was astonishing. My friend sent hubby "candid" photos of me with my mouth open when I first saw the insects. I hope you manage to see the over wintering roosts, it's worth the journey. I suspect YOUR mouth will be wide open too.
j
welcome to 365! lovely to see these monarchs, they are favourites for me - it sure would be amazing to see them en masse. thanks for the follow, I'm looking forward to see your photo journey unfold :)
@koalagardens Many thanks for the kind comment & welcome to the project. This is my second attempt - 2 months & a dozen pics last year.
I "knew" what to expect, like everybody interested in butterflies, I'd seen Monarchs on TV. The reality is so much more intense, even with only thousands in California. What must it be like in Mexico?
Thank you again
j
@oldjosh Hubby has pictures sent to him by our friend of me with my mouth wide open. Not very flattering, but I was the only one showing tonsils! What an astonishing sight it was and maybe one autumn I'll return. Many thanks for the comment
j
Beautiful! They are definitely a sight to behold. I saw them in masses last year in San Angelo, Texas where they stopped over on their migration to Mexico.
@fntngrma I knew I would never go to Mexico but when I was invited to San Francisco in roosting season they were my priority request. A dream come true.
Many thanks for your comment
j
January 17th, 2018
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It's astonishing that only about 40 years have passed since the secret of Monarch migration was discovered. The docent at Pacific Grove said that the Monarch is the only long distance butterfly traveller. I accept that the Canadian born insects have a HUGE journey, but they have a winter holiday in Mexico before they head north. Fewer than 10 years ago, another mystery was solved, that of the Africa to Britain Painted Lady. It was believed they died in Britain. They don't, they go back to Africa! None stop. Single insect. Some have been marked in Africa, trapped in Britain and then in mainland Europe as they head back to Africa...smart little things wait until the wind is right & launch themselves into the air. My husband saw a huge cloud of them heading south in 2009.
Aren't insects wonderful?
j
We get a Monarch approximately every 10 years - 2017 was one such!
j
j
I "knew" what to expect, like everybody interested in butterflies, I'd seen Monarchs on TV. The reality is so much more intense, even with only thousands in California. What must it be like in Mexico?
Thank you again
j
j
Many thanks for your comment
j