http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/09/10/little-surprises/ a place where nature, photography and writing meet Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:34:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/09/10/little-surprises/#comment-180934 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:08:42 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/09/10/little-surprises/#comment-180934 robin - It never fails that, when I see the first Monarch of the year, I'm always a little surprised by how large and colourful they are. The other thing is that there's some variation in size. We had a very large male eclose here on the weekend. He certainly was spectacular! - Ruth - That's interesting about Monarch numbers seeming to be down around Cambridge. I've been hearing that others have found that there were less caterpillars around than usual. I'd say that was probably true here at the farm -- still quite a few, but not so many as last year. In 2006, I seemed to be able to find a tiny larva on just about every milkweed plant. This year, I had to check a few before I found a larva. We've seen plenty of Monarchs flying around in our gardens and in the fields here at the farm, but there don't seem to be quite the number flying in the general area. Perhaps this wasn't such a good year for them -- especially compared to 2006 which seemed to be a bumper crop year. robin - It never fails that, when I see the first Monarch of the year, I’m always a little surprised by how large and colourful they are. The other thing is that there’s some variation in size. We had a very large male eclose here on the weekend. He certainly was spectacular!
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Ruth - That’s interesting about Monarch numbers seeming to be down around Cambridge. I’ve been hearing that others have found that there were less caterpillars around than usual. I’d say that was probably true here at the farm — still quite a few, but not so many as last year. In 2006, I seemed to be able to find a tiny larva on just about every milkweed plant. This year, I had to check a few before I found a larva. We’ve seen plenty of Monarchs flying around in our gardens and in the fields here at the farm, but there don’t seem to be quite the number flying in the general area. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good year for them — especially compared to 2006 which seemed to be a bumper crop year.

]]> http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/09/10/little-surprises/#comment-180894 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:12:09 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/09/10/little-surprises/#comment-180894 Our paper reported today that the Wings of Paradise butterfly conservatory near us in Cambridge ON has tagged only 150 monarchs this year compared to 500 tagged last year. They do not know why there are fewer around here this year. I found a quite a few caterpillars on Manitoulin Island in July, but have seen none in our neighbourhood since then. Our paper reported today that the Wings of Paradise butterfly conservatory near us in Cambridge ON has tagged only 150 monarchs this year compared to 500 tagged last year. They do not know why there are fewer around here this year. I found a quite a few caterpillars on Manitoulin Island in July, but have seen none in our neighbourhood since then.

]]> http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/09/10/little-surprises/#comment-180786 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:55:43 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/09/10/little-surprises/#comment-180786 Yes, that is a very pleasant and beautiful surprise. I hope when we move further south we get to see more Monarchs on a regular basis. I had forgotten what beauties they are until we saw that one the other day. There have been no others. To have one eclose in the house would be a complete and utter delight. Yes, that is a very pleasant and beautiful surprise. I hope when we move further south we get to see more Monarchs on a regular basis. I had forgotten what beauties they are until we saw that one the other day. There have been no others. To have one eclose in the house would be a complete and utter delight.

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