Julia Butterfly

danglesdangles Registered Users Posts: 90 Big grins
edited October 11, 2005 in Wildlife
monarch7.jpg

The wife and I went to the OKC Zoo today to take some more photos of the butterflies. The indoor butterfly garden is closed for the winter so I went to the outdoor garden. While snapping photos of the butterflies, We met a lady and a young man netting the monarchs and tagging them. We had a very nice chat about monarch migration. She said that the cold front last Wednesday night will chase the monarchs south to Mexico and they are trying to tag as many as they can before they leave. My wife got to catch some monarchs, tag them and release them. We both had a great time. Enjoy.

Canon 20D
Sigma 180mm macro, 14.TC and 20mm extension tube
1/250 sec, f/8
Mode: Manual
ISO: 400
Flash exp comp: -2/3
Duane
anglesimages.com

Comments

  • Eric&SusanEric&Susan Registered Users Posts: 1,280 Major grins
    edited October 11, 2005
    Great photothumb.gif To bad about that big ole sticker on his wing thoughrolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif


    Seriously that is interesting that they tag and release them. I've never heard of that. Do they use it as a means to be able to tell how many come back next year?

    Eric
    "My dad taught me everything I know, unfortunately he didn't teach me everything he knows" Dale Earnhardt Jr

    It's better to be hated for who you are than to be loved for who you're not.

    http://photosbyeric.smugmug.com
  • danglesdangles Registered Users Posts: 90 Big grins
    edited October 11, 2005
    In Feb/Mar, the migrating butterflies head back north, mate, lay their eggs and die. In Mar/Apr the first generation of Monarchs emerge and live about 6-8 weeks. In May/Jun the second generation emerges, in Jul/Aug the third generation and in Sep/Oct the fourth generation. It is the fourth generation that will migrate south and start the process all over again. The first through the third generations only live 6-8 weeks but the fourth live from Sep/Oct until Feb/Mar. The tagging process allows researchers to track the path of the monarchs as they migrate south then back north. The time frames and number of generations is dependant on weather extremes, but four generations is the norm.
    Duane
    anglesimages.com
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited October 11, 2005
    Wow! I never thought that they tagged butterflys ne_nau.gif This was a neat story and like Eric, I only wish they wouldn't have slapped a sticker on that beauty's wing rolleyes1.gif They need some little tiny leg tags....Laughing.gif

    Yep, a large portion of the Monarch population migrates down South for the Winter. We have a large population that winters over in Northern California. From Monterey to Half Moon Bay and beyond. Thousands of them cluster together in the eucalyptus trees. They look like colorful dead leaves all over the branches. It's a stunning sight thumb.gif

    Kewl story and nice pic clap.gif

    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
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