Another highlight of our very first consulting period:
It was quite a treat when Agustín and Carmen took us after our patio breakfast, to this Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Zitácuaro in the state of Michoacán.
It was a good two hour drive and quite a climb into the mountains.
The trail we followed was also steep at certain segments.
Taking a 'good' photo was nearly impossible as those butterflies don't sit still...
There are state rangers watching, it is prohibited to smoke and you are not allowed to be noisy!
Incredible to see those Monarch butterflies EVERYWHERE!
Millions of them make the migration every year from Canada and the USA for the winter.
The Monarch butterflies seek refuge in the protective Abies religiosa, Oyamel fir trees, known as Oyamel in Spanish.
Pieter, Carmen and me in front of the trees with yellow flowers on which the Monarchs feast and they drink water.
Carmen and me with a butterfly on the flap of my cap.
Carmen trying hard to stand still, not using her camera and one is right on top of her hat!
Pieter has one on his cap...
Millions of Monarch butterflies...
Pieter standing quiet (which is very hard for him to do!) and he is surrounded by lots of them.
Just walking quietly everywhere...
It sure was a once in a lifetime adventure!
Patrimonia de la Humanidad = World Heritage Site and since 2008 also added as UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle click for info
Both of us feel privileged for having them as our own garden critters: Monarch Butterfly on Citrus Flower ←click for my short video
Related link:
Relaxing Weekend at Valle de Bravo, Mexico | we arrived at the sanctuary from Valle de Bravo
Millions of monarch butterflies flutter to the mountains in Mexico every October | link to short video
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve | UNESCO World Heritage Center
{Monarch Butterfly - Danaus Plexippus} | previous post by me about Monarch Butterfly in our garden
{Fall is the Spring of Winter} | previous post where I also show a Monarch in our garden
Hallo Mariette, wat prachtig dat gefladder van al die vlinders. Ik heb dit filmpje bekeken, geweldig om te zien. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWOySU_hAz0&ab_channel=NatureonPBS
ReplyDeleteFijn weekend, lieve groet Willy
Beste Willy,
DeleteJa, het is gewoon onbeschrijflijk om dat mee te kunnen maken!
Dat filmpje van PBS had ik ook gezien.
Liefs,
Mariette
What an amazing experience. I did not know they migrate every year. How long do they live?
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteYes, that was quite a fluttering experience!
Don't think they do migrate from the UK though...
At the very bottom of my post you find the answer to your question.
Hugs,
Mariette
I've only ever seen documentaries about monarch butterflies, I can't imagine actually seeing thousands, if not millions, of them, in one place. Spectacular!
ReplyDeleteDearest Kim,
DeleteOh, we never would have imagined for seeing something as spectacular like this!
We owe our friends Carmen and Agustín a lot of gratitude for driving us over two hours away from their second home in order to see this!
Hugs,
Mariette
So viele Schmetterlinge :-D
ReplyDeleteLG Bernhard
Lieber Bernhard,
DeleteAber NUR die Monarch Schmetterlinge und Millionen davon!
Lieber Gruß,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - what a truly memorable experience for you both.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago I saw a wildlife film showing the Monarch's long and hazardous journey down from Canada and through the USA to Mexico.
Dearest Rosemary,
DeleteYes, this was quite a memorable surprise experience for both of us.
Our photos are by far not the best, we were NOT prepared for this but still treasure what we got.
It is so incredible on a wildlife film and even more so in person; wish we could have captured the 'noise'...
Hugs,
Mariette
Fabulous story of your visit with the Monarchs - they are such amazing butterflies! Being able to live longer during their Mexican overwintering period is interesting - maybe we should try moving there (see my post today).
ReplyDeleteCarmen and Agustin were great hosts - are you still in touch Mariette?
Mary x
Dearest Mary,
DeleteOh, this was such an incredible experience and we're grateful to our mushroom related friends for having taken us there.
Yes, we have kept in touch with Carmen and Agustín, respecting also that they have to divide time and attention to their children and several grandchildren and friends!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, In Ohio we have lots of milkweed (as do many other places) so we get to see monarchs up close, but only a few at a time, not with the skies filled with them as you and Pieter were so lucky to experience. Milkweed is an amazing plant. They have many edible parts, but by the time they blossom they are filled with a bitter latex--another protection for the monarchs!
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteYou are lucky for having still lots of milkweed in Ohio for attracting butterflies. We used to have these plants, the orange milkweed or Asclepias tuberosa in our garden for that purpose but as so many plants, we lost it.
When biking in our rural areas we have not seen any of the orange one... we're not hiking but just alongside the roads. The bitter latex is a genial invention of Mother Nature for protecting the Monarch caterpillar.
We both treasure this experience! Even these limited photos are meaningful to us and wish we could have captured their noises.
Hugs,
Mariette
Tu entrada, me ha hecho recordar cuando visité el Mariposario de Benalmádena. Había preciosas mariposas de distintos tamaños , algunas volaban bastante bajo o se posaba sobre alguna planta y pude hacer algunas capturas. Por cierto , que también tengo una entrada aquí en mi blog.
ReplyDeletehttps://ventanadefoto.blogspot.com/2018/04/mariposario-benalmadena.html#comment-form
Besos
Besos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteTus fotos sin duda siempre son excelentes, pero el santuario donde estábamos allí revoloteó millones de mariposas monarca. Ojalá hubiéramos estado mejor preparados para fotografiarlos. Esta fue para nosotros una salida inesperada. Sin película rápida, sin trípode...
Abrazos,
Mariette
Wow how interesting and what great photos
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteThank you, even though those are not the best photos...
It was like living a dream!
Hugs,
Mariette
Buon fine settimana 🌹
ReplyDeleteCaro Giancarlo,
DeleteGrazie e anche tutti voi buon fine settimana!
Abbracci,
Mariette
What a wonderful sight this must have been Mariette. I remember all the Monarch butterflies we saw on our last trip to Araluen, that was amazing but nothing like your experience in Mexico. Interesting facts here about the Monarch ✨
ReplyDeleteDearest Grace,
DeleteYes, this was one of the most incredible sights we ever saw!
Butterflies in general are lovely but this is mind boggling.
Glad you liked the facts about the amazing Monarch.
Hugs,
Mariette
That is a once in a lifetime event. The Monarchs migrate thru N. Texas but I-have never seen them in those numbers!
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteThat sure was! We felt honored for having been taken there by special friends.
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh, how many butterflies!
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteJust millions of these Monarch butterflies...
Hugs,
Mariette
Wow!! Das möchte ich auch mal erleben, inmitten soooo vieler Monarch-Falter zu stehen. Aber ich glaube dass schaffe ich nicht mehr. So schaue ich mir Deine Fotos an, liebe Mariette und träume nur davon ;-))) Aber ich sehe sie oft im TV, wenn über ihre laaaangen Reisen erzählt wird... beeindruckend!!
ReplyDeleteDanke fürs Zeigen und liebe Grüße nach Georgia
Traudi.♥
Liebe Traudi,
DeleteJa, wir beiden fühlten uns sehr geehrt um da mit unserem Chef als guter Freund, zusammen mit seiner Frau dorthin gehen zu können!
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette