Last week the California coast was once again pummeled by another atmospheric river with battering sheets of rain and high winds. Rivers overflowed their banks, floods surged throughout the region and trees fell. Yet, despite the storm's intensity, when sunny clear days appeared, monarchs were on the move in an extraordinary fashion. Read about their mass dispersal, a rare event in California.
After weeks of winds, rain, and even snow, the weather was calmer along the California coast and lower deserts of Arizona. While temperatures were still cool and below normal, monarchs are slowly becoming more active and leaving the shelter of their winter homes on their spring migration. Extended forecasts predict the possibility of another rainy spell in the upcoming weeks.
Storms battered the California coast this past week and temperatures plunged. Monarchs are actively breeding on sunny days and many are still basking in the safety of groves along the California coast rather than leaving the region. Where are the monarchs? Monarchs were reported along the coast from Oakland to Oceanside and also in the Palm Springs area. There was one reported in Las Vegas recently.
Oddly, monarchs settled at the same spot since their arrival this past fall until now. Their departure appears to be imminent. This past week, we witnessed their first main movement. Visitors are lucky to watch this unusual monarch activity.
Las Monarcas se han asentado extrañamente en un mismo sitio desde su llegada hasta su inminente partida ahora. Ha sido hasta la semana pasada, que hemos atestiguado el primer importante movimiento de cuya impresionante actividad, un interminable número de visitantes ha experimentado imágenes inolvidables de este milagro de la naturaleza.
Desde su llegada, las Monarcas se habían mantenido en su mismo sitio tanto en el bosque Sierra Chincua como en El Rosario. ¡Este fin de semana pasado la colonia de El Rosario se movió algunos cientos de metros hacia el sur y ligeramente hacia el norte formando ya grandes y pesados racimos!
Las temperaturas cada vez más cálidas mantienen a nuestras fantásticas criaturas anaranjadas demasiado activas:
Since their arrival in early November, monarchs have remained in single locations in the Sierra Chincua and El Rosario Sanctuaries. Over this past weekend, the colony at El Rosario Sanctuary has moved several hundred meters northwest forming a new colony within larger clusters.
Warmer temperatures keep our fantastic orange creatures much too active:
Surprisingly in comparison to recent years, many monarchs in the West are still savoring the protection of the California overwintering sites as we approach the end of February, a harbinger of cool weather. Mating and active flying and nectaring monarchs rule the day in the groves on sunny days. Counts continue to monitor their presence/absence.
