Frivolous Friday! Pismo Monarch Butterfly Grove with 22,000 Butterflies!
It’s Frivolous Friday!
Thought I would share some of the fun I squeezed in this week (in between all my portrait sessions and retouching work.)
Yep, this happened #1:
Just got back from an adventure up to Pismo State Beach’s Monarch Butterfly Grove -can you believe I got to see 22,000+ butterflies at their home for the winter???
This has been on my bucket list for YEARS!
(Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove is one of only five sites in the state that has counts of over 10,000 butterflies annually.)
Before we talk butterflies, a bit of background.
It’s in the town of Pismo Beach and in addition to butterflies, it has beautiful beaches, a pier, cute shops, art, etc
And the sunsets were pretty amazing!
We camped right next to the butterfly grove in the state park.
The beaches were glorious and yay doggies were allowed!
They also have lots of sand dunes with a pretty awesome boardwalk so you can check it out up close and personal….
This is what the Butterfly Grove looks like to the naked eye.
It’s SUPER HARD to see the butterflies without a scope, binoculars or a zoom lens….
This is those same trees with my zoom lens!
Monarchs require a sheltered area buffered from cold temperatures, storm, and wind.
At the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, the tall eucalyptus and Monterey cypress trees provide the shelter and canopy for thermal stability.
Although cool temperatures are needed to slow the use of stored energy reserves,
monarchs cannot survive long periods of freezing temperatures.
Adjacent to the grove of trees is a natural garden with native flowering plants that provide nectar for the adult butterflies.
The Amazing Monarch Migration
What’s unique about monarch migration?
The western monarchs in the grove are four generations removed from the last year’s overwintering monarchs.
Monarchs can reach high altitudes and travel as far as 200 miles a day. Western monarchs don’t travel in a mass migration.
Where do they come from?
Monarchs spend summers as far north as Canada.
With the approach of winter, the late summer and fall butterflies head south or west to their overwintering grounds.
Because they cannot tolerate extreme cold winter temperatures, monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains come to coastal California.
Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains overwinter in the mountains of central Mexico or along the Gulf Coast.
Some may travel as far as 2,000 miles to reach these sites.
How do they find their way?
Studies indicate that sensors in the monarch’s antenna are key to migration, providing information about the time of day the same way a clock does.
Researchers theorize that this information, combined with information about the sun’s position, is key for navigation.
On overcast days monarchs use a UV light-triggered geomagnetic compass as a backup navigational system.
How cute is their little gift shop?
And yes, the camping poodle was allowed into the grove!
We also spent some time in the town of Pismo – we walked the pier and explored the town….
And who can resist fish and chips with a view of the beach??? Not us!
It was an amazing little get away – and I definitely recommend you check out the butterfly grove!
What can I say: I’m Feeling Blessed!
And do you know what else I’m blessed by? Capturing amazing moments for you to treasure for a lifetime!
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I am a full time professional photographer based in San Diego, but will travel anywhere for weddings.
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