Migration of the Monarch Butterflies

worldlife.org

This past week, seven friends and I went on a trip to the little town of Carrabelle, Florida to experience the yearly migration of Monarch butterflies from North America to Mexico. The Monarchs pass through the Carrabelle area by the millions, and can be seen in great clouds, like the one above.

Mark D. Ruffner

We arrived towards the end of the migration, and while we didn't see clouds of butterflies, we did see scores of butterflies wherever there were wild flowers, especially along the roadsides and the nearby St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Mark D. Ruffner

Refuge staff and volunteers participate in national studies of the health and population trends of the Monarchs, in part by tagging them. Tagged Monarchs coming from the east of the Rocky Mountains and passing through the refuge have been recaptured as far south as Central Mexico.

Mark D. Ruffner

Monarch butterflies can travel more than 50 miles per day by catching and riding thermals. It takes one generation (living 6-9 months) to fly south, and four generations (that each live only one month) to return north.

Mark D. Ruffner

The Monarchs are not alone at the refuge; I was quite taken by the beautiful orange Gulf Fritillary, which is actually more colorful than the Monarch, though smaller.

Unfortunately, Monarch butterfly populations are dwindling because development along their route is erasing the nectar flowers by which they sustain themselves.

photos by: Sandra Gonzalez   |   Mark D. Ruffner

When we were in the wildlife refuge, we saw this young coyote, and all agreed that he was in need of sustenance, too.

The Old Carrabelle Hotel (top)   |   Winchester Cottage (below)

The butterfly excursion was a great excuse for a fun group vacation — most of us have known each other for at least 25 years. Half the group, myself included, stayed in a 1900 railroad hotel, and half stayed in a cottage also owned by the hotel proprietors. There were great conversations on the cottage porch . . .

. . . and great breakfasts each morning inside the cottage. The folks at the cottage had a good laugh because they knew that if the plates weren't interspersed by color, I'd probably rearrange them. (And they'd be right!)

As you can see, Carrabelle is a really small town, so after good conversation and hearty breakfasts, we piled into cars and traveled either to the wildlife refuge or to the quaint coastal town of Apalachicola.

Mark D. Ruffner

Apalachicola is a fishing town known for its good oysters. I took this photo at a fun shop called the Tin Shed. It sold some touristy stuff, but also interesting nautical antiques.

Mark D. Ruffner

Apalachicola was a major 19th-century seaport. Between 1828 and 1928, 204 "sidewheelers" and "sternwheelers" docked there. It was also the site of the country's first sponge exchange, in 1831. Waterfront real estate in Apalachicola was in such demand that in 1860, when the average laborer earned $306 per year (for a 60-hour week), $13,000 was refused for a waterfront lot.

Today Apalachicola is refashioning itself as a town of trendy shops, cafés and fine dining.
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