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Wintering Monarchs


Wintering Monarchs
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3073 W: 232 N: 5866] (19730)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-12-28
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/1600 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-01-07 14:59
Viewed: 754
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Yesterday Rob Fry (arfer) posted a Monarch shot titled California Dreaming. His shot was taken in Ontario, Canada in September. The Monarchs from Canada come to overwinter in a handful of California spots, among others, a small grove of eucalytus trees in the town of Newark where I live. In fact the Monarch Grove is a mere 10 minutes walk from my house, and I don't even have to cross any streets to get there.
I went to visit them a couple of weeks ago, and I just wanted to tell Rob that his butterflies got here safely. : )

Please see Workshop to see how densely clustered the butterflies are on the trees. Monarch Trio shows the underside of the Monarch wings.

Both to stay safe and to get maximum sunlight, they tend to perch way high up in the trees... hence the poor quality of the shot, as the distance was a bit out of reach of my camera.

The Return of the Monarchs

Many hundreds of thousands of Monarch Butterflies fly 2,500 miles in an arduous one month journey to arrive in California each fall with a great purpose.
These fragile little critters flew 100 miles every day, stopping at night near flowers. In the mornings they fueled up on nectar, and took off south for another 100 mile leg of their incredible flight to California. For nearly a month, day after day, they continued their pilgrimage.

Now these delicate little golden flutterers are about to consummate their achievement. But, first they must rest before they begin the regeneration of their amazing five generation annual life cycle. They hang in clusters until the weather is warm enough to fly, above 50 oF. Colder than that, and their wings get too brittle, and they can't fly. Then they move around to eat nectar from trees and other plants.

In Pacific Grove, Santa Cruz, Newark, and a dozen other coastal areas, where there are ancestral groves for their wintering, the Monarchs build up their strength for the big event. In March when milkweed appears, the Monarchs begin a marvelous ritual, the crowing achievement of their great journey.

They mate and the females lay their eggs.

When the new Monarch is strong enough to fly, it goes north to repeat the mating cycle. Four short (one-month) generations of Monarchs fly north (like a relay race) until the fourth generation reaches the last milkweed of autumn in Canada.

Then the fifth generation, the long-living (8 month) butterfly is born in Canada in late summer, and immediately migrates south to sanctuaries in California. About 65,000 come to Pacific Grove.

Source
Silvio2006, uleko, Pentaxfriend, Argus, jeanpaul, Evelynn, Adanac, cecilia, jcoowanitwong, horia, coasties, wkshelton, dew77, mbasil has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To mbasil: Thanks : )manyee 1 01-09 20:20
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Manyee, great composition with a lot of wonderful butterflies, splendid sharpness, beautiful light and colors, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Manyee,

Great shot
never seen so many monarch butterfly's together(workshop)
superb sharpness and composition
lovely colours and lightning

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-01-07 17:08]

Hello Manyee

It is a sight to behold.To think of the effort that went into getting all the way there.The composition of your shot is really well done,I like the staggered vertical line.Good to get them all with their wings open too.Excellent POV and DOF.Very well focused with sharp detail and well saturated colours.Thanks for the shot it is beautiful.

Rob

So you took this on the 28th...2 days after I left your house in the rain and wind ! Look at that sunshine! Look at those butterflies spreading their wings to soak up the warmth. NO FAIR! You discover this 2 days after we leave! To whom do I direct my protest letter???! : ) This is a nice sharp image and a nice pattern of leaves and butterflies. (Have your followed the thread in the forum re: butterflies around the world? I am glad that the kids are getting good weather for their visit. I'm just jealous. If you miss wind, cold and rain you can come here. : )

Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1051 W: 1 N: 4170] (14008)
  • [2007-01-07 20:15]

Hi Manyee,
Thanks for showing me a sample of a migration that intrigues me very much. The capture is beautifully colored, finely composed and spot on. Thanks for sharing.
Rick

Well done Manyee - What beautifully coloured butterfly...
We sure missed them in my yard...
Cecilia

Hi Manyee,
Wonderful site and great story. Well composed picture and interesting workshop. Very well done and TFS.
JC

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2084 W: 216 N: 3767] (12502)
  • [2007-01-08 4:26]

Hi Manyee

What an amazinf phenomenon...i know i've said it before, but it amazes me everytime i see it! :)
I'm sure Rob can sleep well now, knowing they are all safe ;)
Splendid picture here, despite the long distance between you and them, with charming colors, good lighting and nice sharp details.
The image in the WS is eqauly fantastic!
Very well done!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Hi Manyee

A fantastic shot of the Monarchs. We have lots of them around at the moment. They make a lovely show. TFS.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2615 W: 133 N: 7512] (23431)
  • [2007-01-08 6:47]

Hello Manyee,
What an experience to see such a gathering!
You have at least given us a taste with your fine shot and the workshop supplement.
They must have been doing this for thousands of years before the eucalyptus trees came to California from Australia.
Your shot is sharp and well presented and shows how the individuals vary slightly.
Thanks for sharing this one.
Best wishes, Ivan

Hello Manyee,

Excllent work, great colors BG POV DOF perfet details very crisp, nicly composed and capture photo the fram is well done Just Perfect photo. You are so lucky to have the opprotunity to view something like this excllent work

TFS Kyle

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2470 W: 168 N: 7478] (23630)
  • [2007-01-08 9:14]

Hello Manyee,
It must be wonderful to see these Monarchs gathering like this! Your two illustrations are excellent. I love their bright orange colour against the Eucalyptus background and I like your composition too.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2007-01-08 11:28]

Hello Manyee,
Very interesting scane again.POV,colors,DOF,framing and composition are excellent.
TFS...:-)

Bonjour Manyee
C'est une excellent prise de vue en macro de cet arbre a papillons! Composition très belle avec de belles couleurs, et très beaux détails. Merci pour le partage .J'ai vu ton workshop c'est fantastique de voir tout ces papillon par milliers et dire que tu demeures tout près.
Au revoir et Bravo....JP
Les sourires demain

Another great capture. I really like the scale here -- it shows the number of butterflies and their habitat on this gum tree. I don't see why you're not happy with the quality -- it is great. The only thing I see is a reflection off the one near the center -- but I would be incredibly happy with the capture.
Mike

lovely composition.

tfs mario

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