Sad News For the Monarchs this past 2013 Winter

I saw this article on CNN today and decided to share it.  The entire Monarch population fit in the area about the size of a football field this past 2013 winter.  It this continues, this species may not be around much longer.

The article points out that the loss of the Milkweed plant in its migratory route is one of the main reasons for the demise of the Monarchs.  I have several plants in my yard and try to add a few more each year.  Please help spread the word to plant more Milkweed plants.  Every little bit helps.

Happy Monarching!


Caleb


http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/14/opinion/roberts-monarch-butterflies/index.html?hpt=hp_t4

Monarchs Are Heading South Again

Well, Monarchs have left Canada and begun their 2000 mile trek to Central Mexico.  Be sure to keep an eye out for them.  I live on the Texas Gulf coast, and they usually come through here between October 1-15.  I'll keep you posted if I see any coming through this year.

One bit of good news is that recent rains here are bring relief from the horrible drought this year.  Last year, the drought made it very difficult for the butterflies to make their journey south.  At least they will have plenty of water and flowers to get nectar from as they travel this fall.

On a sad note, Monarch habitat and numbers of Monarchs making the annual migration continue to drop.  Below are a couple of articles with more information.

http://www.weather.com/news/science/nature/monarch-butterflies-threatened-logging-20130910

http://www.weather.com/news/science/nature/monarch-butterflies-mexico-20130314

Happy Monarching!


Caleb, Janae, Joshua & Laura Ann

Planting Milkweed In Your Yard Is Vital

I just came across this article tonight.  If this doesn't convince you of the importance of planting milkweed in your yard and on your property, I don't know what will.

It's so sad to see species like this dwindling towards extinction.  Monarchs are at an all time low.  I wonder how many more years we will even have an annual migration if this continues.

Here is the link.

http://news.yahoo.com/monarch-butterflies-drop-ominously-mexico-023630858.html

Happy Monarching!


Caleb & Janae Warren
savethemonarch1@gmail.com

Ahhhh Spring!

Springtime is one of my favorite times of the year.  Of course, here on the coastal bend of Texas, we have a much milder winter than other parts of the country, so sometimes the transformation is not quite as dramtic as the northern areas of the country.  Nonetheless, it is still beautiful and breathtaking.

I took a few pictures this morning in my yard to share with you.  I hope I get to take a pic of a Monarch passing through.  I'll keep my camera nearby.

Sand Milkweed growing in my front yard. It returns every year.

Blue Vine Milkweed growing on my Lantana bush.  Lantana is a favorite nectar flower of  Monarch  butterflies.

Blue Vine Milkweed growing on my chain link fence. I'm encouraging it's growth.

Milkweed bug. They eat up Milkweed that the Monarchs need. I usually remove them.

Blue Vine Milkweed growning on the ground.  That doesn't work out too well when it comes time to mow the grass.

Blue Vine Milkweed growing near my children's slide

Wildflowers in our yard. They're just coming out.

More wildflowers. I love the diversity.

This year, my goal is to encourage Milkweed to grow in my yard.  This will help the Monarch on its annual migratory route.  Check with your local nurseries.  Ask them to carry Milkweed.  Buy some and plant it in your yard.  It's pretty hardy.  Here locally, I've found some nice plants every year at Turner's Nursery in Corpus Christy.  

I tried to transplant some Blue Vine milkweed to other places in my yard, but it didn't turn out so well.  It's strange - on it's own, it can spread just fine.  But, if I try to help it along, it doesn't respond well.  So, I'll just water and let it do its thing.

Happy Monarching!

Caleb & Janae Warren

savethemonarch1@gmail.com

2013 Monarchs Have Been Sighted!

Exciting news!  We have had three Monarch butterfly sightings in the last three days!  Sadly, I wasn't able to get a picture in time.  They were moving through with haste.  So, our first 2013 sighting was on March 11th. I never get tired to seeing them come through year after year.

Have the Monarchs reached your area?  Have you seen any?  Please let us know.  Pictures are welcome.

Happy Monarching!


Caleb & Janae Warren
savethemonarch1@gmail.com

Amazing Sights This Spring

Dear Readers,

So much has been happening this Spring, I hardly know where to begin.  I have really seen some amazing sights this season.  Before I share my experiences, let me mention that I've decided this year to focus on raising as much Milkweed in my yard as I can.  I'm not ruling out the possibility of rearing a few Monarchs this fall, but my primary focus will be on Milkweed.  Interestingly, if you plant Milkweed, the Monarchs will find you.  It's amazing how they sniff it out.

1.  Our first Monarch sighting was on March 8th of this year.  Normally, the Monarchs reach our area between March 1st and 15th each year.  It was such a pleasure to see them return as they are heading back north to Canada.

2.  Just the other day, my children and I had the experience of a lifetime - something I have never witnessed before in the wild.  We were playing in the front yard of our home, when suddenly, what looked like a Monarch butterfly came falling to the ground from a nearby tree.  Upon closer inspection, it was two Monarchs - a male and female.  The male had grabbed the female either in the tree or in midair, and the two fell to the ground together.  I suddenly realized that I was observing a pair of wild Monarchs mating for the first time in my life.  After about a minute or so on the ground, the pair were coupled, and the male suddenly lifted off carrying the female with him.  He flew them to a nearby tree and landed on a branch there so they wouldn't be disturbed.  It was quite a remarkable sight.  I was hoping to get it on videotape, but by the time I got the camera, they were flying away and it was too late.  So, I learned it's important to always have your camera/camcorder nearby when your outside watching nature.  You never know what you might see.

3.  Just yesterday, my family and I took my parents, who are in town visiting from South Carolina, to a nearby state park called Goose Island State Park.  There we took them to see "Big Tree", an enormous giant Texas Live Oak that is over 1,000 years old!  While there, we saw Monarchs traveling through on their way towards Canada.

Well, sorry for this belated post, but those are some of the highlights from this Spring here on the Gulf Coast.

Happy Monarching!


Caleb

Hummingbirds Are An Exception

Hello Everyone,

As everyone in the country knows, Texas has been in a horrible drought this year.  Up until last week in which we got a couple of brief showers, we hadn't had any rainfall in about six months.  Needless to say, that has made it difficult to do any kind of horticulture or work with my butterflies.  It's just been to hot and dry. 

This year's 4th or 5th generation of Monarch's have already left Canada now and are on their way to Mexico.  Last year, I noticed that they began to appear in our area close to Corpus Christi in the first two weeks of October.  It will be interesting to see if they come through at the same time this year or not.

In other news, a couple of weeks ago, my sister-in-law Heather sent an email out to everyone about remembering to have our hummingbird feeders out because they are migrating through, and it being so dry, they need our help.  I'm so glad she did that, because I had taken mine down due to repairs and painting on my house and had forgotten to put them back up.

Well, I went ahead and put them back up again, and to my surprise, two hummingbirds were feeding from them the very next morning!  Fast forward to this morning and there are eight feeding together and getting along pretty well.  I filled up the feeder yesterday afternoon, and it is almost empty this morning.  I have two feeders, but one seems to work better than the other.  The other one tends to leak.  I plan to get a few more feeders when I have the chance.  They are facinating to watch.

I came across this video on YouTube which shows hummingbirds eating out of people's hands.  I think you will enjoy it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=EUEZkwJulBY&feature=fvwp

Additionally, I have posted below some pictures and a video clip of my feeder.  I hope you enjoy them.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, normally I don't encourage birds to reside in my yard because they tend to eat butterflies.  However, the hummingbird is an exception since they eat only nectar.



I hope you enjoy the hummingbirds and Monarch butterflies that will be migrating through your area this fall.

Happy Monarching!


Caleb
savethemonarch1@gmail.com

(Hummingbirds feeding at my house - 09/19/2011)

(Up to eight hummingbirds were feeding together at this one feeder!)

(Someone's getting a cool morning drink of nectar.)