Steve'sDigicams

saly · Jan 31, 2012, 9:54 PM

I had business to attend in Goleta, California so I took a quick side trip to the Ellwood Monarch Butterfly Preserve. This is one of their larger wintering sites in California that is accessible by the public. Nearly 90,000 are known to gather here each winter.

Monarchs begin their cycle in California or Mexico. These butterflies go lay eggs in the Rockies in March. The new hatchlings start to migrate throughout the North America, into Canada, while reproducing and dying along the way. Third or forth generation butterflies return to California and Mexico as winter approaches, to spend the winter and the cycle start all over again.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

smac · Jan 31, 2012, 10:51 PM

Nature will leave you dumbfounded every time. What an amazing spectacle. Thanks for posting those.

jjdog2 · Feb 1, 2012, 7:55 AM

Amazing Saly, thanks for sharing!!!

jj

lorenww · Feb 1, 2012, 8:58 AM

What they said! Spectacular!

boBBrennan · Feb 1, 2012, 10:45 PM

Monarchs, swallows, ducks and geese, salmon, all of nature is simply amazing. These images too are amazing, thanks for showing them.

saly · Feb 2, 2012, 7:09 AM

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed seeing these amazing little troopers! How their great grandkids manages to find their way back to this exact spot is simply beyond imagination!

If you are ever in California (or live here), there are several colonies you can visit between November and February:
www.monarchwatch.org/download/pdf/where.pdf

Clint501 · Feb 2, 2012, 8:50 AM

What an awesome sight and a privilege to see it!
Beautiful pictures.

gordymohr · Feb 2, 2012, 6:35 PM

Well done! Must be really something to see this in person.

bluenose · Feb 2, 2012, 6:49 PM

The Monarchs pass through our area in the fall on their way south. The Niagara Peninsula is an overland shortcut past the Great Lakes into the U.S. The Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls has a Monarch tagging programme in which the public can 'adopt' and tag their 'own' butterfly prior to its migration.

I can recall once seeing maybe 50 or 60 Monarchs all clustered in a maple tree one evening. Truly remarkable creatures.

Thanks for sharing.

Regards

Mugmar · Feb 2, 2012, 9:58 PM

That has to be such wonderful site. . .thanks for sharing.

Feb 2, 2012, 8:50 AM	#7
Clint501 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Suwanee, Ga Posts: 2,460	What an awesome sight and a privilege to see it! Beautiful pictures. __________________ Have Fun - Be Nice - Don't Break Anything

Feb 2, 2012, 9:58 PM	#10
Mugmar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,449	That has to be such wonderful site. . .thanks for sharing. __________________ MUG's Flickr MAR's Flickr

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Steve'sDigicams

Recent Camera Reviews

Most Active Forums

Most Popular Deals

Latest Feature Articles

Jan 31, 2012, 9:54 PM	#1
saly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: near Los Angeles, CA USA Posts: 3,648	Monarch Butterfly Preserve I had business to attend in Goleta, California so I took a quick side trip to the Ellwood Monarch Butterfly Preserve. This is one of their larger wintering sites in California that is accessible by the public. Nearly 90,000 are known to gather here each winter. Monarchs begin their cycle in California or Mexico. These butterflies go lay eggs in the Rockies in March. The new hatchlings start to migrate throughout the North America, into Canada, while reproducing and dying along the way. Third or forth generation butterflies return to California and Mexico as winter approaches, to spend the winter and the cycle start all over again. #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 __________________ Panasonic FZ35 and GF1; Nikonos V when underwater ~~Art is in the eye of the camera holder~~

Jan 31, 2012, 10:51 PM	#2
smac Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,456	Nature will leave you dumbfounded every time. What an amazing spectacle. Thanks for posting those. __________________ Think like a person of action, Act like a person of thought. http://scienceguy.smugmug.com/

Feb 1, 2012, 7:55 AM	#3
jjdog2 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southeastern Ohio Posts: 3,255	Amazing Saly, thanks for sharing!!! jj __________________ Comments and suggestions for improvement welcome and appreciated.

Feb 1, 2012, 8:58 AM	#4
lorenww Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: St. Pete Fl. Posts: 461	What they said! Spectacular! __________________ Nikon D5000 with Kit lenses, 18-55 55-200

Feb 1, 2012, 10:45 PM	#5
boBBrennan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arlington, Texas USA Posts: 1,934	Monarchs, swallows, ducks and geese, salmon, all of nature is simply amazing. These images too are amazing, thanks for showing them. __________________ boBB .......he likes Olympus, Apple MAC & SmugMug best of the choices; he likes that he has choices boBBrennan.SmugMug.com

Feb 2, 2012, 7:09 AM	#6
saly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: near Los Angeles, CA USA Posts: 3,648	Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed seeing these amazing little troopers! How their great grandkids manages to find their way back to this exact spot is simply beyond imagination! If you are ever in California (or live here), there are several colonies you can visit between November and February: www.monarchwatch.org/download/pdf/where.pdf __________________ Panasonic FZ35 and GF1; Nikonos V when underwater ~~Art is in the eye of the camera holder~~

Feb 2, 2012, 6:35 PM	#8
gordymohr Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 329	Well done! Must be really something to see this in person.

Feb 2, 2012, 6:49 PM	#9
bluenose Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 352	The Monarchs pass through our area in the fall on their way south. The Niagara Peninsula is an overland shortcut past the Great Lakes into the U.S. The Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls has a Monarch tagging programme in which the public can 'adopt' and tag their 'own' butterfly prior to its migration. I can recall once seeing maybe 50 or 60 Monarchs all clustered in a maple tree one evening. Truly remarkable creatures. Thanks for sharing. Regards