Natural History Wanderings

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Fall Is Monarch Butterfly Season

The Monarch is probably our best know butterfly.  Fall and Winter are when the Monarchs are often found in great numbers as they head to conifer and eucalyptus groves to overwinter.

Where to see Monarch Butterfly Roosts in California:
(Winter Sites from north to south)

• Fremont, Ardenwood Historic Farm, in the North Woods between the railroad tracks and the north fence boundary.
• Santa Cruz, Natural Bridges State Beach, a site accessible to everyone
• Pacific Grove Monarch Grove Sanctuary, monarch butterfly grove near Monterey
• Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur,
• Pismo Beach, Pismo State Beach,
• Ventura, Camino Real Park
• Malibu, Point Mugu State Park, Big Sycamore Canyon (an autumn site)
• Long Beach, El Dorado Nature Center
• Encinitas, Monarch Butterfly House at 450 Ocean View Avenue (800) 606-6627
• San Diego, UCSD(La Jolla Shores Dr at Azul St)

Two informative sites on Monarchs are

The King of Butterflies – Monarch Butterfly which includes:

• Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle
• Monarch Butterfly Migration
• Helping Monarch Butterflies
• Monarch Butterflies Facts
• Monarchs In the News
• Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Coloring Page
• What do Monarch Butterflies Eat
• Life Span of a Monarch Butterfly
• A Monarch Butterfly Release for Your Event
• Raising Butterflies: Butterfly Kits for Children

Monarch Butterflies at Wikipedia which includes:

•  Taxonomy
• Description
• Range and distribution
• Migration
• Habitat
• Adult food sources
• Reproduction
• Host plants
• Defense against predators
• Relationship with humans
• Threats

Related articles

• Monarch Butterflies Disappearing From The Midwest (naturalhistorywanderings.com)
• Monarch Butterfly Protection Projects (naturalhistorywanderings.com)
• How Monarch Butterflies Eat (neatorama.com)
• The Annual Monarch Migration Has Begun (childrensbooksheal.com)