Posts Tagged: monarch butterflies

Saving the Monarchs: Saving the Sacred Trees

We can help save the monarch butterflies by saving the "sacred" trees in central Mexico where most of the migrating population overwinters. Science...

A monarch butterfly nectaring on its host plant, milkweed, in Vacavile, Calif. Monarchs west of the Rockies overwinter along the California coast, and monarchs east of the Rockers overwinter in central Mexico. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch butterfly nectaring on its host plant, milkweed, in Vacavile, Calif. Monarchs west of the Rockies overwinter along the California coast, and monarchs east of the Rockers overwinter in central Mexico. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Tiny/Tim Not Long for This World

It was bound to happen. Not all monarch butterflies that you rear will make it. Such was this case this week with when two monarchs eclosed, both...

Tiny and Tim on a replica of a penny-farthing. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Tiny and Tim on a replica of a penny-farthing. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Tim catches some rays. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Tim catches some rays. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Status of Overwintering Monarchs in California

Is the overwintering monarch butterfly population along California's coast increasing or decreasing? "So far,  far the picture is rather...

Monarch butterfly roosting in Berkeley Aquatic Park in November. They are at the 14th disc golf course in an ash tree. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch butterfly roosting in Berkeley Aquatic Park in November. They are at the 14th disc golf course in an ash tree. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs nectaring on milkweed in November in Vacaville, Calif. The milkweed is their host plant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs nectaring on milkweed in November in Vacaville, Calif. The milkweed is their host plant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Counting Chickens, Counting Chrysalids

Counting butterflies before they eclose from their chrysalids is sort of like counting chickens before they hatch. We've done both: raised...

This monarch chrysalis, hanging outdoors in a hamper, is apparently not viable. It turned from jade green to back on Nov. 15. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This monarch chrysalis, hanging outdoors in a hamper, is apparently not viable. It turned from jade green to back on Nov. 15. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

An earlier success in monarch rearing. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

An earlier success in monarch rearing. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A newly released monarch on a milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A newly released monarch on a milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs Are Still There

They're still there. They. Haven't. Moved.   The monarch butterflies roosting in an ash tree at the 14th disc golf course hole at the Berkeley...

Monarchs roosting in an ash tree at the Berkeley Aquatic Park. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs roosting in an ash tree at the Berkeley Aquatic Park. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The roosting monarchs look like dead leaves except for the occasional glitter of orange as they seek better positoning. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The roosting monarchs look like dead leaves except for the occasional glitter of orange as they seek better positoning. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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