A
FALL RETURNING WESTERN MONARCH BUTTERFLY ON AN ANISE PLANT
Copyright Boone Productions, Siamak Sehat, photographer
America’s
Endangered Western Migratory Monarch Butterfly Habitats
Every year America’s Migratory Western
Monarch Butterflies signal their annual return known as “ the miracle migration
“, with the magnificent color of brilliant smears of autumn orange filling the
sky. Flying from as far north as Canada to return to their same ancestral homes
to over-winter in a fragile network of approx eight to ten of the last
few remaining major (over 50,000 butterflies per site). These threatened habitats are the only
habitats in the world for the Western Monarch butterfly. Flying south to
escape the cold, they begin arriving in October with their numbers swelling to
over 100,000 in habitats on the
California Coast by
December and often to 250,000 by February. Spectacular
“Clusters” of Monarch butterflies cover and conceal the limbs of
Pine, Cypress
and Eucalyptus trees to keep each other warm. Mating at the end of winter they
leave their California Central Coastal habitats in March to begin their journey
north. The female seeks milkweed plants on which to deposit over 400 eggs, one
per leaf. These spring and summer born Monarch butterflies live approx five (5)
weeks and can fly at 10 to 30 mph at an estimated 80 to 100 miles per day.
Arriving five generations later, the last born Monarchs live six months and will
fly the entire return migration of over 2,000 miles south to
California's coast. Their migratory
phenomenon cannot be re-created. Scientists estimate that their
numbers are now below one million ( see Beauties
Are Back/ Decline article on the home page ). Some of the largest
major regular over-wintering habitats for Western Migratory Monarch
butterfly in the United States are
Ellwood ,
Natural Bridges State Preserve and Pismo Beach
State Park, which offer
the returning Monarch butterflies the ideal conditions for
reproducing. The American Western Monarch butterflies Major over-wintering
habitats are each as important an environmental treasure to visit
as the last stands of our Redwood
Forest. Help everyone to become aware of the Western Monarch butterflies
on California’s
coast.
The Daniel Boone
Butterfly Palace Conservatory, American
Western Monarch
& Rare Butterfly
Research & Educational
Center will be complete with world class
living museums, cultural center and rotating international environmental
exhibits.
The Boone family has
"walked a long " path since those
pre-revolutionary days in wilderness America. In our modern age of
computers and racing technology, of species-toxic pollution and habitat
destructive behavior we must take pause to renew our bearings; find our place
in the balance of things. We must make our stand as full heirs to our American
environmental heritage." Sheila Boone, President
Updated
02/09/06
Page Created By
Chris Fredrickson