Just to keep it from being 100% off topic, we once again had only martin visitors, no nests. We had martins a decade or so ago and then had a bad spring where a number of them froze to death and nothing since. We have been trying harder each year but each year our trees keep getting bigger and we think that that is the problem for the martins. We are going to cut a few trees and relocate the houses next spring.
Anyway first question is: Are you all seeing a lot more Monarch Butterflies these past few years? I thought that there were more last year and they were around longer last year (I saw Monarchs in October, which is very unusual here).
This year there are many many more than I ever remember.
Next Q: Do you know of a good forum where they talk about Monarchs? I have googled around without success yet.
Hope you had a good year with your martins!
JP.
Off Topic: Monarch Butterflies
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
Trim your trees back or remove some of them & hopefully you'll get the Martins to return. Make your housing look used. Pre-nest & also smear a little mud around the entrance inside & out.
Yes we have seen many more Monarch's this year than previous years. Sadly the darn yellow jackets keep eating the eggs on my milk weed plants. I did have a few hatch out. Even with a super wet summer we're seeing a lot of Monarch's.
The 4th generation hatches out from September to early October. It's that generation that Migrates to southern California & Mexico.
I don't know of a good forum, but this site has tons of info on Monarch's:
https://www.monarchwatch.org/
Toy in PA
Yes we have seen many more Monarch's this year than previous years. Sadly the darn yellow jackets keep eating the eggs on my milk weed plants. I did have a few hatch out. Even with a super wet summer we're seeing a lot of Monarch's.
The 4th generation hatches out from September to early October. It's that generation that Migrates to southern California & Mexico.
I don't know of a good forum, but this site has tons of info on Monarch's:
https://www.monarchwatch.org/
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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Archer
- Posts: 786
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
- Location: Manitoba/Altona
- Martin Colony History: six pair in 2014, have grown to 52 pairs in 2017.
This facebook group has tons of info on Monarchs and is interactive. I hatched out a couple of Monarchs from caterpillars this year. Interesting hobby. I seem to notice them more this year but that happens when I find a new interest. https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheBeautifulMonarch/
2011- first year trying, a few visitors.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair