If I can get all 5 to pose for a picture, I will post it later today.
UPDATED AT 8:34 PM -- Here's the photo of all 5 monarch butterflies. Aren't they beautiful? There were 3 males and 2 females and I tagged and released them at 7:oo PM.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
A Big Day at the Monarch Ranch!!
When I checked the monarch ranch before going to work this morning, it looked like I would have 5 new monarch butterflies emerging today. As of noontime, I have 3 new butterflies and as you can see by the 2 chrysalis in the middle of the picture, it looks like the last 2 will emerge by the time I'm done mowing the lawn later this afternoon.
If I can get all 5 to pose for a picture, I will post it later today.
If I can get all 5 to pose for a picture, I will post it later today.
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12 comments:
Cool!!! It's amazing to me how quickly it happens...
Will you release them at your place?
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Hi Kelly,
It really is very cool. I've never actually seen the butterfly come out of the chrysalis, but there was a very good Nova program on PBS last night about monarch butterflies. Their head is at the bottom of the chrysalis and they showed footage of a butterfly emerging from the chrysalis. It was really fascinating!
Hi Carol,
Yes, after tagging, I release them in the wildflower garden in my backyard. My backyard is also certified as a Monarch Waystation, so it's the perfect spot for them to being their life as butterflies.
Ruthie, this is so cool to watch, for you and us. I'd probably have taken 100s of photos of the process. They are so magical. Thanks for helping to increase their population.
How exciting to see them emerging.
WOW Ruthie! How exciting! And they posed so nicely too!
Thanks Gaelyn, I'm glad you're enjoying it too. Magical is a good word for this! Remember the monarch larva monitoring project I've been volunteering for this summer? We've switched the emphasis from larva to tagging of wild monarchs. Last Wednesday was my first night of that and we had a great time. Caught and tagged about 18 wild monarchs and sent them on their way to Mexico.
Hi Lisa,
I was excited to see that all of them hatched successfully.
Thanks Jayne. It was a little cooler in the house yesterday afternoon and I think that's what helped keep them so quiet for the photo op.
Very exciting! And thanks for the explanation in an earlier post about how to tell males from females. Actually, thanks even more for showing the pictures so we could figure it out for ourselves. You're a terrific teacher.
This is absolutely amazing! Love seeing one of the true miracles of nature!!
PS -- cheese curds rock!
So-o-o-o-o fascinating and lovely!
Did you even imagine this endeavor would work so beautifully?
AWESOME!!!!
You're welcome Penny. It's kind of nice to know how to ID the differences, although you have to look pretty fast when you see them flying around in the wild!
Hi Susan,
Thanks for stopping by my blog to see the monarch miracle.
Thanks Mary Lee, and no I never imagined the monarch ranch would be quite so successful this year. I've only lost one chrysalis so far and none of my caterpillars have been affected by parasites (knocking on wood!). This is by far the most monarch butterflies I've ever raised and tagged.
Thanks Mel. Someday I would like to make the journey to Mexico to see where the monarchs spend the winter.
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