Date: 11/10/2010

Number: 1

One of my students brought in a Monarch today! Her Grandmother found five chrysalides on some leaves and thought it was too late/cold for them to be outside - and brought them indoors and watched them. Beautiful butterflies emerged in just a few days! They released all but one - so that it could come to Junior Kindergarten and meet us. We've been following the Monarchs online and participated in the symbolic migration. How exciting to be able to post a sighting! We waited until midday (so it would be warmer) and brought her outside to go free. She was sitting so happily on a flower in the little enclosure she traveled in, so we placed her on a Chrysanthemum in our yard. She opened and closed her wings many times in the sunlight, uncoiled her proboscis a few times (seemingly unsatisfied!)... and just sat there for about a half an hour. Then up and away she went! The kids were so excited and kept calling out "Goodbye" and "We'll miss you". We read Lois Ehlert's "Waiting for Wings" (again!) and sang our butterfly songs to wish her well on her long journey. We hope you make it to Mexico safely pequeña mariposa! My observation time: I was watching for four hours in captivity indoors and 30 minutes outside.

New Haven, CT

Latitude: 41.3 Longitude: -72.9

Observed by: Andrew
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