Headwaters Park: Monarch Migration

It's incredibly difficult to predict nature, which is perhaps most obvious in our weather forecasts. Yet we continue to try, and in these efforts, learn vast amounts of amazing information about what we are tracking. Take, for example, the migration of the Monarch butterfly.

Just this week, while the southern states are being deluged with hurricane winds and rain, here at Headwaters Park it has begun the funny mix of the end of summer and beginning of fall. The nights and mornings are cool and dew-coated, but the days become hot and more like our summer memories. This week we have noticed an upswing in our butterfly activity.

Our Park houses four main habitats; forest, stream, wetland, and meadow. This time of year, I truly enjoy the meadow habitat. It's is so active and loud, with swaths of color creating new rainbows in every direction. Monarchs are on their way and we were able to capture images of a beautiful one on its way to its winter home.

A few basic facts about Monarchs:

Each year, the monarch population goes through 4-5 generations.
The migrating generation are not quite at the adult stage when they leave.
When monarchs do reproduce, they will only lay their eggs on milkweed.
Monarchs can tolerate being in the rain to a point, but if their wings become too saturated, they become unable to fly.
The wings are covered in what are called scales. Although they are not like reptile scales, Monarch scales are relatively hardy.
Monarchs use their sense of smell and sight to learn about their environment, find food, and stay safe.
Monarchs drink nectar from flowers with their proboscis, which is like very long tongue.