The Spring 2009 Monarch Butterfly Migration has Started! - Wildlife Gardeners

Cirsium · 03-10-2009, 11:38 AM

The spring 2009 northward migration of the Monarch butterfly can be watched here:
Monarch Butterfly Migration Map, Spring 2009

There's lots more information on the spring migration here:
Journey North: Monarch Butterfly Migration Update: March 5, 2009

You can also report your sightings of Monarchs and Milkweeds.

Green Man · 03-20-2009, 10:30 AM

It's amazing the picture in that link with the swarm of Monarchs (the ones with the graphs on them)

Glad Monarchs don't have sharp beaks

Stoloniferous · 03-20-2009, 10:39 AM

You sure are in a good mood today, Green Man.

Green Man · 03-20-2009, 01:28 PM

I have some catching up to do, I've been workin some heavy hours and have neglected my computer..

Stoloniferous · 03-20-2009, 02:05 PM

Thank you for the links Cirsium!

bigbike4 · 03-26-2009, 01:23 PM

The links are awesome and as I was looking at the animated one, I could not help but wonder if they (the butterflys) will head slightly east before continueing to go north considering the early spring "winter storms" in the mid west right now. Or will the cold and snow stop them "dead in their tracks" from their annual migration north before they head eastward?

It still amazes me how an insect that "according to science" does not have a brain to think or reason, knows which migration routes to follow, at what time of the year, and when to return. let alone, which plants are okay to lay its eggs on and everything else it does "by instinct".

TheLorax · 03-29-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

It still amazes me how an insect that "according to science" does not have a brain to think or reason, knows which migration routes to follow, at what time of the year, and when to return. let alone, which plants are okay to lay its eggs on and everything else it does "by instinct".

Not necessarily instinct. This will help you understand a little bit more about what is going on.
http://www.cafcs.wvu.edu/plsc/faculty/Entomology/park/ENTO404/L33.pdf

What this tells us is that when we buy plants that our butterfly friends can't recognize as food, we might as well be planting silk flowers in the ground. We humans use our senses to detect what is food and what isn't food to us too. Even toddlers won't try to eat plastic look alike food from play stations.

usernamethatsme · 05-20-2009, 01:35 AM

Saw the first of the season today flying by my house! Never ceases to amaze...

trillium · 05-20-2009, 08:54 PM

I saw one today as well! It really is amazing how such a delicate creature can make such an incredible journey and defeat the odds to procreate.

doccat5 · 05-21-2009, 09:49 AM

Saw my first one yesterday! Yeah!!!

03-10-2009, 11:38 AM	#1
Cirsium Co-Administrator Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Midwest	The Spring 2009 Monarch Butterfly Migration has Started! The spring 2009 northward migration of the Monarch butterfly can be watched here: Monarch Butterfly Migration Map, Spring 2009 There's lots more information on the spring migration here: Journey North: Monarch Butterfly Migration Update: March 5, 2009 You can also report your sightings of Monarchs and Milkweeds.

03-20-2009, 10:30 AM	#2
Green Man WG Ways and Means Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South of the Cheddar Curtain	It's amazing the picture in that link with the swarm of Monarchs (the ones with the graphs on them) Glad Monarchs don't have sharp beaks Attached Thumbnails

03-26-2009, 01:23 PM	#6
bigbike4 Grub Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rogersville, TN USA	The links are awesome and as I was looking at the animated one, I could not help but wonder if they (the butterflys) will head slightly east before continueing to go north considering the early spring "winter storms" in the mid west right now. Or will the cold and snow stop them "dead in their tracks" from their annual migration north before they head eastward? It still amazes me how an insect that "according to science" does not have a brain to think or reason, knows which migration routes to follow, at what time of the year, and when to return. let alone, which plants are okay to lay its eggs on and everything else it does "by instinct". __________________ Gardening-the art of killing weeds and bugs to grow flowers and crops for animals and birds to eat

05-20-2009, 01:35 AM	#8
usernamethatsme Carbon Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern Illinois	Saw My First of the Season Saw the first of the season today flying by my house! Never ceases to amaze...

05-21-2009, 09:49 AM	#10
doccat5 Big Fat juicy WORM Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia, USA	Saw my first one yesterday! Yeah!!! __________________ Earthworms are the intestines of the soil. –Aristotle

03-20-2009, 10:39 AM	#3
Stoloniferous Too Wild To Garden Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Franklin, Massachusetts, United States	You sure are in a good mood today, Green Man.

03-20-2009, 01:28 PM	#4
Green Man WG Ways and Means Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South of the Cheddar Curtain	I have some catching up to do, I've been workin some heavy hours and have neglected my computer..

03-20-2009, 02:05 PM	#5
Stoloniferous Too Wild To Garden Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Franklin, Massachusetts, United States	Thank you for the links Cirsium!

05-20-2009, 08:54 PM	#9
trillium Grub Join Date: May 2009	I saw one today as well! It really is amazing how such a delicate creature can make such an incredible journey and defeat the odds to procreate.

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