Date: 10/02/2010

Number: 1

We are offshore doing scientific research and a monarch butterfly appeared today on our ship, the R/V Atlantis. Maybe it was blown off course by the storms? He is presently relaxing in a box and will hopefully make it back to Woods Hole, MA with us in a few days where he will be very disappointed and have to start migration all over again!

We were about 120 miles from shore when we discovered the butterfly. We left Woods Hole, Mass. on Sept. 10 and have been offshore since then.  Just about 1 1/2 days before the monarch turned up we had that weather system go through that dumped so much rain on the Carolinas.  We had 35-40 knot winds and swell averaging about 20 feet. (That was pretty rough for us, and science work was suspended while the system passed.)  The butterfly, oddly, turned up in the galley near the breakfast fruit (That's why I thought it might like the syrupy peach that I gave it.) I don't think it was a stowaway; I think it would have been discovered in the three weeks we've been out here.  I feel certain that it was blown out here during the storm.  We also had several birds and other insects show up, too.

I am a regular on the R/V Atlantis.  I work with various scientists from around the world (oceanographers, marine biologists, geologists, etc.) and help them collect oceanographic data.  Our ship also carries the submersible Alvin. (I am assisting with an Alvin recovery in this picture.) Alvin takes scientists down to as far as 4500 meters below the surface to do research.  I, unfortunately, only get to ride occasionally on top of it on the surface :)  This trip is mostly scientists studying the chemistry of the water column. (Alvin is on the ship, but not diving this time around.) You can view the cruise track for the R/V Atlantis at sssg1.whoi.edu (we're in red)

Unfortunately our lonely traveler did not live through the night.  I'd put him/her in a box (with just an open top) and sugar water and a syrupy peach hoping he/she would eat something.  It was probably pure exhaustion because he/she sat on the edge of a paper bowl all day barely moving (like I said the top was open and it did not have very high sides, just enough for protection, but no attempts to escape were made).  I have placed the "remains" out on the deck hoping that one of the stowaway birds might benefit and the butterfly will not have died in vain. I was saddened that this little guy gave up after such an exciting journey!

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Latitude: 36.7 Longitude: -73.5

Observed by: Allison
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