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Monarca Mariposa
2008.01.24
If you look verrrrrrrrrrrry carefully, you'll note lots of orange specks or dots--those are Monarch Butterflies! The dots in any of the photos are not lens dust--they are butterflies...
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In the following photos, you'll see the branches have a sort of discoloration--looking a bit orange or brown-orange. That's because there are hundreds of butterflies sitting on every branch. It's as if the branches are dripping Monarchs. We were sitting on the ground, silently admiring the beauty of literally millions of butterflies as they sunned themselves, rested, and enjoyed their Mexican vacation.
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Again, the brown or brown-orange areas are loaded with M.B.'s. This ground is considered to be sacred/holy ground by the Indians of this region. Each of these trees is at least sixty feet tall, but most are taller.
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Taking flight
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While it is the same tree grouping as in photo 3, it was taken a minute or two later and a few steps back to get a better shot of the trees to the left. The bare tree in the left foreground has "dots" all up and down, which at first glance might be moss. Nope. Butterflies!
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When I took this photo, my group had begun the 4 mile descent back down the mountain trail, which was all dirt. It was so hard to leave the serenity of this place. Anyway, a pair of butterflies landed on me just after shooting this, I guess in an attempt to let me know they'd meet me back in Michigan soon after.
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As our bus was pulling away, I looked out my window and saw this excellent example of terrace farming.
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One of the highlights of my stay in Michoacan was visiting the mountainside where the Monarch Butterflies spend their winter. Living within 1 hour of Point Peelee, Ontario, I've not yet ventured to the Point to bid them farewell as they head south to Mexico in early September. From all over the country, the Monarchs gather at the Point and head, en masse, to this one mountain in central Mexico (at least, that's what our guide told us). They remain there, resting in the trees and flitting about, until late February when they begin their trek back north to the U.S.
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Comments
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Great post and photos. That would be really cool to see all of those butterflies!
bamommy · 2008-01-23: 20:24
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Wow!!! I love butterflies. Nice set.
Queen911 · 2008-01-23: 21:00
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Interesting post and photos - Like the shot of the terraced farming, too.
aknor · 2008-01-23: 21:50
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Interesting... you know, they do "something" on the Lake Michigan shoreline/ beach in the summers.... I'm never sure WHAT, but they congregate for something. This must have been quite a scene to see.
DancingDolphin · 2008-01-23: 21:57
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Monarchapaloosa! Great shots! Do we need to tell your sister about the "Birds and the Butterflies"?
MHJphotos · 2008-01-23: 22:28
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oh cool! that must have been so neat to see - monarchs are so beautiful.
lexlevans · 2008-01-24: 10:23
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I like butterflies too... :-)
wfrnk · 2008-01-25: 07:57
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How neat! Thanks for sharing these captures
????? · 2008-01-26: 17:54
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