Sunday, March 21, 2011
Dear Friends:
I think the last massive exodus is taking place now. I drove to El Rosario today at exactly noon, and was astonished to see the hundreds of butterflies gliding northwest along the main road.
At El Rosario there are now only about a half a dozen trees with branches bending under the weight of monarch clusters. I estimate only one quarter of the original number of monarchs remain. Photos #1 and #2 show the most crowded part of the Sanctuary; the butterflies have moved down towards Llano ¨Las Balsitas" to the northwest. Photo #3 shows the trees that were formerly occupied by Monarchs during the high season only a couple of weeks ago. They will soon look empty! Photo # 4 shows the monarchs posing on "Hoja Ancha," a plant abundant in the forest now.
Mating Monarchs: Hurry Up!
Temperatures and time seem to set a deadline for Monarchs to leave and, therefore, for mating. As I was standing to take photos amidst the silent and the wonderful spectacle before my eyes, I stayed immobile for a couple of minutes and I COUNTED SIX - EIGHT COUPLES OF MONARCHS MATING WITHIN A RADIUS OF ONE METER AROUND MY FEET!!! I had never seen this before! Here are photos of four different couples mating, right around my feet, while I moved extremely slowly and silently to take the pictures.
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Last, I should say that in spite of being the last days for Monarchs to stay in our Sanctuaries I saw few Monarchs dead on the floor. There were many more dead Monarchs in Chincua one week ago, than in El Rosario today. As Monarchs leave, temperatures increase from warm to really hot days now, so they should hurry up now and leave the Sanctuaries, by the end of this week most likely.
Many greetings,
Estela Romero,
Angangueo, Michoacán.
I estimate only one quarter of the original number of monarchs remain.
Photo #1
Photos #1 and #2 show the most crowded part of the Sanctuary.
Photo #2
Photo #3
Photo #3 shows the trees that were formerly occupied by monarchs during the high season only a couple of weeks ago.
Photo #4
Monarchs posing on "Hoja Ancha," a plant abundant in the forest now.
