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| worldlife.org |
This past week, seven friends and I went on a trip to the little town of Carrabelle, Florida to experience the yearly migration of Monarch butterflies from North America to Mexico. The Monarchs pass through the Carrabelle area by the millions, and can be seen in great clouds, like the one above.
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| Mark D. Ruffner |
We arrived towards the end of the migration, and while we didn't see clouds of butterflies, we did see scores of butterflies wherever there were wild flowers, especially along the roadsides and the nearby St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
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| Mark D. Ruffner |
Refuge staff and volunteers participate in national studies of the health and population trends of the Monarchs, in part by tagging them. Tagged Monarchs coming from the east of the Rocky Mountains and passing through the refuge have been recaptured as far south as Central Mexico.
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| Mark D. Ruffner |
Monarch butterflies can travel more than 50 miles per day by catching and riding thermals. It takes one generation (living 6-9 months) to fly south, and four generations (that each live only one month) to return north.
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| Mark D. Ruffner |
The Monarchs are not alone at the refuge; I was quite taken by the beautiful orange Gulf Fritillary, which is actually more colorful than the Monarch, though smaller.
Unfortunately, Monarch butterfly populations are dwindling because development along their route is erasing the nectar flowers by which they sustain themselves.
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| photos by: Sandra Gonzalez | Mark D. Ruffner |
When we were in the wildlife refuge, we saw this young coyote, and all agreed that he was in need of sustenance, too.
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| The Old Carrabelle Hotel (top) | Winchester Cottage (below) |
The butterfly excursion was a great excuse for a fun group vacation — most of us have known each other for at least 25 years. Half the group, myself included, stayed in a 1900 railroad hotel, and half stayed in a cottage also owned by the hotel proprietors. There were great conversations on the cottage porch . . .
. . . and great breakfasts each morning inside the cottage. The folks at the cottage had a good laugh because they knew that if the plates weren't interspersed by color, I'd probably rearrange them. (And they'd be right!)
As you can see, Carrabelle is a really small town, so after good conversation and hearty breakfasts, we piled into cars and traveled either to the wildlife refuge or to the quaint coastal town of Apalachicola.
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| Mark D. Ruffner |
Apalachicola is a fishing town known for its good oysters. I took this photo at a fun shop called the Tin Shed. It sold some touristy stuff, but also interesting nautical antiques.
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| Mark D. Ruffner |
Apalachicola was a major 19th-century seaport. Between 1828 and 1928, 204 "sidewheelers" and "sternwheelers" docked there. It was also the site of the country's first sponge exchange, in 1831. Waterfront real estate in Apalachicola was in such demand that in 1860, when the average laborer earned $306 per year (for a 60-hour week), $13,000 was refused for a waterfront lot.
Today Apalachicola is refashioning itself as a town of trendy shops, cafés and fine dining.
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Hello Mark, You were lucky to see this migration of the monarchs. The fields around Cleveland have a lot of milkweed which attracts these butterflies, but I never saw an entire flock. Carrabelle, with so many quiet attractions, looks like a great place for a getaway.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello, Jim,
DeleteI knew that Monarch butterflies favored milkweed plants, but learned at the refuge that the returning butterflies lay their eggs on the milkweed because it is the only plant that the caterpillars eat. I sure hope there's someone out there saving the milkweed plant!
Hello Mark - what a wonderful experience to see the Monarchs on their yearly migration.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have seen wildlife films showing the flight of the butterflies nothing can prepare you for seeing the actual event yourself.
Appears to be a charming 'olde world' place that you all stayed - good company and a breakfast that looks as if it would set you up for the day.
Hi, Rosemary,
DeleteIt didn't hurt that I was surrounded by great cooks, one of whom is a caterer. I mentioned several times that dining at the cottage was easily as caloric as going on an ocean cruise!
I worry that we will one day lose the Monarch butterfly because of development. Development has also harmed the fishing industry of Apalachicola, and some of the fish we ate — which should have been local — actually came from Texas.
Dear Mark, These are beautiful photographs. I was wrong I thought you were going to a sandy beach to rescue newly born turtles.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago Mr G and I went to a small mining town in the Central Highlands of Mexico to visit the migratory breeding grounds of the Monarch Butterfly. We were picked up in Angangulo, at 3 in the morning, and taken by open back truck way up high into the forested mountains. Millions of Monarchs were hanging in the Fir Trees, wings closed. As the sun started to come over the mountain they slowly started to unfurl their wings. What a sight!.
Dear Gina,
DeleteA friend of mine was treated to the same view you had (on the Monarch's western U.S. route), but his hosts hadn't told him beforehand what he was going to see. He looked at what appeared to be trees with orange leaves, but couldn't understand why the leaves were fluttering when there was no breeze. That's when he was told they were all butterflies. He said it was mind-blowing!
Incidentally, every year there are turtles hatching on beaches about 20 minutes from my house (St. Pete Beach). During the hatching season, the municipality shield the street lights so the baby turtles won't head to the street instead of the water.
Such vibrant colors!! I'm enjoying this cheerful post on a very cold Saturday here in DC. I do feel bad for the coyote. If it lived further north, it might not make it through the coming winter. Speaking of butterflies, I didn't see many of them this year in our garden. And we have lots of butterfly bushes as well as other plants that attract them. I have never seen a Gulf Fritillary - thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteHi, Loi,
DeleteI'm glad you have bushes that are attractive to butterflies! I don't know if Monarchs reach as far north as D. C., but their favorite plant is milkweed. October is my favorite month in Florida — the temperature stays for extended periods at about 74 degrees, and I need neither the air conditioner nor the heater.
Hi Mark!
ReplyDeleteYour blog post is a little vicarious vacation. I had no idea what to expect in the hints you dropped and knew nothing about this monarch stopping place. My parents went through the panhandle just about the same time. What a shame I could have recommended this to them.
Thanks for a colorful and refreshing read.
sw
Hi, Scott,
DeleteApparently, there are a number of factors that determine the arrival of the Monarchs. Temperature is one factor, and whether or not it's raining is another.
I had no idea such a great even was within driving distance . I live in New Orleans. I've spent plenty of time in the panhandle and would love to add this too my list. Thanks for a wonderful post !
ReplyDeleteHi, Clara,
DeleteAs I said in earlier comments, there are a number of factors that determine when [in October] the butterflies will appear, but with your parents being so close, they should be able tocatch the phenomenon at its height.