Date: 12/10/2011

Number: 1

Late Migrant Monarch Siting
On December 10, just after 4 pm, I saw a brave little monarch butterfly struggling against the cold wind to get over the 18–floor office building where I work. I helped this butterfly over the building by throwing my arms up in the air and jumping up and shouting Up, Up, Up. And incredibly, the brave little butterfly mustered the courage and strength to get over the building. I sent him on his way on a wing and a prayer that he would find a warm place to sleep and winds that would carry him far enough south to survive the next day. That brave little butterfly will need all the help he can get to survive, as temps have been freezing in Rockville, MD where he was observed. And a blizzard is rapidly heading for the Midwest as far south as northern Texas; so hopefully he can change course in time to avoid it. He has a very tricky and difficult journey so he cannot afford to make any mistakes. He must have been born very late in the season, because he did not look full grown; yet had the bright unmistakable orange color and the strong and brave spirit of a Monarch butterfly. Who would not love to have the wonderful Monarch butterfly as their State insect?

Silver Spring, MD

Latitude: 39 Longitude: -77

Observed by: Marlene
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