A huge benefit to heading north in the winter is the chance to see thousands of butterflies.
The Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove is one of only five sites in the state that has counts of over 10,000 butterflies annually. Each year vibrant orange and black Monarch Butterflies flock here, a location essential to their successful migration, seeking shelter from the freezing northern winters.
From late October to February, the butterflies cluster in the limbs of towering, majestic Eucalyptus trees flanking a riparian estuary that flows to the Pacific Ocean. And lucky us, our timing couldn't have been more ideal.
The butterflies form dense clusters with each one hanging with its wing down over the one below it to form a shingle effect. This provides shelter from the rain and warmth for the group. The weight of the cluster help keeps it from whipping in the wind and dislodging the butterflies.
From a distance, the cluster looks like a grouping of dead leaves but with the aid of a scope or a telephoto lens, the cluster is vibrant- alive with color, patterns and movement. Wow.
The Monarchs that visit Pismo Beach are a special variety. They have a life span of six months as opposed to that of common Monarchs who live only six weeks. This can be attributed to a unique fat storing system. However, even with an extended life span, those butterflies that leave in March will never return. It is all so mesmerizing.
This place is truly a place of wonder and renewal. Butterflies make me happy!
"Butterflies are self propelled flowers."
-R.H. Heinlein
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1 comments:
Oh wow!! What an incredible sight, truly. It is so amazing how far these tiny tiny little creatures and how accurate and astuire their insticts are. Truly amazing.
Being able to see this would truly be a vision for a lifetime. Thank you for sharing, Lisa xo
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