I am not ashamed to admit I like butterflies. Sure, they're not the most masculine of creatures but in my book they've got a lot going for them. First off, they're really cool looking - in flight, or migration, or just hanging out on a rock or a flower. They also pollinate a lot of plants. And how about the way some will rhythmically fan their wings while stationary? Or the fact that they start off life as a caterpillar (a very cool creature in itself)? Face it, butterflies are bitchin' and you know it. You're probably thinking you'd like to be reincarnated as one right now.
I remember as a little kid living in Laguna Beach in the early 70's, seeing Monarch butterflies everywhere. They used to camp out in eucalyptus trees in my neighborhood. It was a migratory pattern for them to travel through on their way to Mexico or points north. They fluttered by everywhere. It was awesome. There were other butterflies around, too, and I dug all of them. Little did I know then I would live to see a rapid decline in their numbers. Butterflies worldwide have been hit hard by deforestation, development, pesticides, air pollution, and infections. In Britain, Sir David Attenborough is backing a project to help save butterflies and educate people of their intrinsic value and importance to ecosystems: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/13/conservation.wildlife1. These creatures are indicators, very sensitive to changes in the environment, similar to amphibians in that regard (don't get me started on salamanders - they're disappearing too and it pisses me off). Anyway, when indicator species start disappearing, it's time to pay attention and do something.
4 comments:
nice post and great photo as always.
But you gave away the answer to the trivia question "What were butterflies called before butter was widely known?".
So I am going to have to mark you down for that, blogger rules nothing personal.
Almost gone down here now. I experienced a swarm of monarchs up in SLO in the late 70's. Indescribable
I can't take credit for the photo - it's a web grab.
Changed the post title to more accurately reflect my point and avoid breaking any rules...
Gazelle-
Great post.
Those "swarms" can sometimes still be found in SLO county. The Pismo Bach over-wintering site pretty consistently hosts between 40,000 to 100,000 monarchs each winter as do a myriad of other sites along the SLO county coast. While monarchs themselves are not offered any protections (yet), over-wintering sites are considered critical habitat and as such are given some regulatory protection.
Sorry for the ramble, but I thought you might like to know.
Thanks, Daniel, for the info on the critical habitat protection. I wish they'd done that in Mexico and down in Orange County and San Diego County long ago...
Last I saw the "swarms" was about 6 years ago in Sycamore Canyon in the Malibu area. Thankfully, those groves are in state park and Nat'l Rec Area lands.
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