Date: 06/28/2015

Number: 1

A male monarch I cared from larva stage emerged from chrysalis around 9am. His wings did not seem to fully fill, they seemed small but well-shaped. When he attempted to fly, within 6' he fell to ground. I put him in larger box, with tall sticks, and screen cover. I added a mature zinnia flower and a bottle cap with cotton ball soaked in sugar water (same mixture I feed hummingbirds). He partook of both. Near sundown I again let him try to fly, he got 12" but still no go. I covered him for night, then moved the box out to near the milkweed gardens, removed the lid, intending for mother nature to take over, as there was nothing more I could do. To my delight, when he flew, he flew strongly up and over privacy fence and shed, landed 25' up in oak tree, then headed north, flying strongly and gaining altitude smartly. So of my sole spring migrant's 4 cats, one died, two formed "misformed" chrysalis' and died, and one was successful.

Broken Arrow, OK

Latitude: 36 Longitude: -95.8

Observed by: Virginia
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