News from Cerro Pelon
March 13, 2018 by Ellen Sharp
The monarchs on Cerro Pelon are keeping us guessing. Judging by their behavior last week, I thought I would be reporting their definitive departure this week.
When I went up on Saturday, March 10th they were flying everywhere, but there were no more clusters to be seen in the trees. Males grabbed females by the top of their wings and carried them off to more secluded spots. Thousands poured down to nectar on white flowers lower down on the mountain.
By Sunday, they had formed one cluster again on a tree in La Gota del Agua, right at the entry of the meadow called El Llano de Tres Gobernadores.
On Monday, March 12, the same tree was full of clusters.
By Tuesday, March 13, the clusters looked denser, and we took up our last tour group for the season.
The long, staggered arrival we witnessed last fall (when they arrived on October 27 and continued to arrive well into December), seems to be mirrored by a long, staggered departure. Their numbers are decidedly depleted, but for the moment they are still with us.
Ellen Sharp
Co-owner, JM Butterfly B&B
