Gave Birth to our First Monarch!

[syscokid]

Ha ha, a Monarch Butterfly...

About a mile from our house is a grove of eucalyptus trees, called the Monarch Butterfly Grove (Pismo Beach, California). It's a main breeding ground and party site for the migrating Monarchs. 20 years ago, an estimated 200,000 of these Monarchs would stop by and dazzle us for the same few months out of the year. Unfortunately, since 20 years ago, their numbers have declined by a lot. New estimates are at 19,000 to 20,000.

The docents that volunteer at the butterfly grove are always encouraging people to plant milkweed:

Those butterflies love and depend on this stuff.

A second butterfly is coming. Pupa or Chrysalis:

Kind of creepy looking!

Monarch Butterflies of Pismo Beach, California

 

[smitty_p]

I love Monarch Butterflies. If I had to pick, I'd say they're my favorite butterfly..

 

[eSGEe]

Congratulations Dear Boy Have a Cigar
I bet your butterfly is going to go far.

 

[Sp8ctre]

Cool! I love butterflies. There were a lot of them in Ohio where I grew up.

My dad took this photo a couple days ago...

It's a Spicebush Swallowtail

 

[BlackSG91]

Wow...some great pictures. I love wildlife pics.


;>)/

 

[eSGEe]

IS that Zenna????? From -- OHIO--- ??? perhaps ????

 

[Truss_rod]

Awesome pictures for sure.