Inestimable Numbers of Monarchs Die in Mexico

Top 2. Feb 28, 2002 11:54 AM

» Treeman - Wow

The sheer numbers of lost butterflys sound quite
high, Naomi.it certainly sounds catastropic. Though I do expect that this sort of thing occurs occassionaly as a natural event, habitat loss may very well result in higher concentrations overwintering in any one remaining location, and thus higher losses than past such events caused.

Were you able to find any information on what proportion of the overall wintering population was affected? Do all the butterflies that overwinter in a colony come from the same regions of North America, or would they be from scattered locations accross the continent? These factors could determine how much impact any one of us might observe this summer.

-- posted by Treeman

Top 3. Feb 28, 2002 8:17 PM

» jerrib - I simply can't look at the photos, Naomi

This is tragic. We all need to do our part to get nature back on the right track.

Sad.

-- posted by jerrib

Top 4. Mar 1, 2002 9:34 AM

» Naomi_Mathews - Re: monarchs...

In response to message posted by Red:

Hi, Mary --

Thanks for your comments, Mary -- they are always appreciated. According to the research I did, those millions of Monarchs simply froze to death following the hard freeze after the rain. I will get some links posted in the next few days to some articles published on the 'Net that indicate differing opinions by various experts about whether or not the Monarchs' demise in such large numbers was totally due to loss of habitat and/or other factors that enter into this tragic situation. I will likely post these links at the end of the article itself so all of the readers can read them there. Those articles also give in-depth info as to how different entities involved arrived at the approximate total number of Monarchs that died.

I will get back to you about the Nature's Treasures Event later, as I will be away from my computer for several days. Thanks a lot for asking me to submit some of my articles for this event, Mary. I appreciate it.

Have a great weekend! (-;

-- posted by Naomi_Mathews

Top 5. Mar 1, 2002 9:49 AM

» Naomi_Mathews - Re: Wow

In response to message posted by Treeman:

Hi, Wes!

Thanks a lot for stopping by, and also for your comments. As I mentioned in my response to Mary's post above, I will place some links to some great articles about this "event" at the end of my article in the next several days. This will give all of my readers an opportunity to read the articles "first-hand", and will likely help answer most of the very important questions you asked. I realize I only touched lightly on this tragic event of mid-February, mostly to call it to the attention of butterfly enthusiasts who may not have heard or read about it yet. The articles I mention linking to bring out much more in-depth info about all of this.

We as "lay persons" can do a lot of surmising about such tragic events as this one. But, it's those dedicated scientists, lepidopterists, biologists, conservationists, etc. who are all to be commended for the research and information they provide. So, watch for the links that I'll get posted in the next few days, okay?

Have a great weekend, Wes! I'm sure spring is not far away and YES, many Monarchs will likely be returning north before we know it -- so we all need to get our butterfly gardens ship-shape!! (-:

-- posted by Naomi_Mathews

Top 6. Mar 1, 2002 10:02 AM

» Naomi_Mathews - Re: I simply can't look at the photos, Naomi

In response to message posted by jerrib:

Hi, Jerri --

Thanks a lot for your visit -- I appreciate it! I know how you feel about those photos of the millions of dead Monarchs. I was shocked when I first saw those photos, too. It does make one stop and think about what can be done to ". . . get Nature back on the right track" as you so appropriately stated. It is very sad -- but I'm so very glad that the Monarch species will survive and thrive in spite of this massive die-off following the freezing weather.

Hopefully, when readers read about this tragic event, more people will be inspired to plant "butterfly" gardens! Take care, Jerri -- and have a great weekend!

-- posted by Naomi_Mathews

Top 7. Mar 6, 2002 1:59 PM

» BettyPine - I remember a PBS special about the migration

There was a PBS special some years back that showed the awesome numbers of Monarch butterflies that swarm on certain trees in Mexico. Millions all togehter, like an orange and black carpet of tapestry. Was very beautiful. And the special also showed what happens to some of them during the migration, as you say many don't make it, but have offspring that take over the journey.

But the masses of dead butterflies in those pictures are quite the opposite of seeing live ones but just as amazing because of the sheer number of them. I'm apt to believe that it's natures way for the most part. It's bound to happen after a number of years you'd think.

Thanks for a very interesting article.

-- posted by BettyPine

Top 8. Mar 9, 2002 4:51 AM

» Jo Murphy - I haven't seen anything like that before.

In response to message posted by jerrib:

I haven't seen anything like those photos before.

I can't wait to have a house and garden again. Natives birds, butterflies. Just the very idea of it.
In the mean time I'll just keep reading your articles,
Jo
http://www.busywomen.com.au
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/mura...

-- posted by Jo Murphy

Top 9. Mar 10, 2002 7:55 PM

» Naomi_Mathews - Re: I remember a PBS special about the migration

In response to message posted by BettyPine:

Hi, Betty --

Thank you so much for stopping by and for adding your comments to my discussion area. I appreciate it!

I believe I've seen the PBS special that you mention about the Monarchs migrating in the Oyamel forest in Mexico. That truly was awesome as I recall. Conversely, seeing so many millions of them dead in the photographs mentioned in my current article is equally as "awesome" -- but terribly sad as well.

I guess I would have to say that in my humble opinion, I don't think this year's die-off of so many Monarchs was "altogether" Nature's way. In reading other articles about this tragic event in Mexico, I tend to lean toward some of the experts' opinions that indicate over-logging in those major Monarch sanctuaries over the years has thinned out the trees way too much. Those trees provide the major vital cover the Monarchs need while overwintering in Mexico to protect them from such severe wet and cold weather as occurred in mid-January this year. Fortunately, steps have been taken to prevent further over-logging in that area -- according to several articles researched.

Meanwhile, it will likely take many years for that area to be re-forested as heavily as it was before. As mentioned in one of the articles (see link in my current article), if there should be another wet, freezing winter this coming year in those same sanctuary areas, the Monarch population could suffer another devastating blow. Let's just hope that doesn't happen!

On the other hand, I also believe as you say, that Nature does have a way of balancing things at times. Still, I think it behooves all of us to be good stewards of the many beautiful things Nature has given us for our pleasure on Planet Earth. I'm sure you will agree! (-;

Thanks again for your visit! I'm glad you found my article interesting.

-- posted by Naomi_Mathews

Top 10. Mar 10, 2002 8:02 PM

» Naomi_Mathews - Re: I haven't seen anything like that before.

In response to message posted by martine3038:

Hi, Jo --

Thanks for your visit and comments here in my discussion area. I appreciate it!

I'm happy to hear you enjoy eading my articles. When the day comes that you have your house and garden again that you speak of, I know you will truly enjoy having butterflies and native birds in your garden! I can't wait until spring arrives once again -- it's my favorite time of year. Seeing everything coming back to new life after a long winter is so inspiring!

-- posted by Naomi_Mathews