Monarch butterfly count bounces back from bad year

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: Reuters

Monarch butterfly colonies in Mexico more than doubled in size this winter after bad storms devastated their numbers a year ago, conservationists said on Monday although the migrating insect remains under threat.

Millions of butterflies make a 2,000-mile journey each year from Canada to winter in central Mexico's warmer weather but the size of that migration can vary wildly.

Fewer of the orange and black insects arrived in Mexico last year than ever before, researchers said, but the butterfly colonies increased by 109 percent this year to cover roughly 10 acres of forest. Researchers estimate the size of the butterfly colonies based on the area they occupy in a forest.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/14/us-mexico-butterfly-idUSTRE71D7C520110214

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Wonderful news!

[sulphurdunn]

1. Thank God.

In a world filled with beautiful creatures many are as beautiful, but none more beautify than a Monarch butterfly.

[Demoiselle]

2. Thank you for this lovely GOOD news, Viva!

Yes, those beautiful fragile critters are amazing.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Hope this will happen again, and again until they are back. The world needs these monarchs back.

Thank you for that exquisite monarch imagery. It literally brings tears to the eyes. They are so beautiful. They should NOT become extinct.

Good reminder to plant more flowers for the summer.

http://www.butterfliessite.com.nyud.net:8090/images/butterflybush.jpg

[NCarolinawoman]

4. Now that is some good news.

I feel so sad when I see them trying to navigate through parking lots.

Haven't researched this in the "books", but they seem to navigate during the day and actually "sleep" during the evenings. (unlike many bird species).

I had never thought about the "sleep" part until an observation I made late one summer:...I watched several monarchs spending much of the afternoon in my flower garden; then at dusk, as if by signal, they fluttered up to a large overhanging branch in a pine tree. There they stayed as the sun went down. I have to assume they had a good nectar feed in the early morning and once again proceeded on their journey. :)

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. That is such great news. Thank you!