Monarch (Danaus plexippus) - 20240903-03
Please, no invitations to award groups or to those with large/animated comment codes.
The monarch is a milkweed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. The eastern North American monarch population is notable for its annual southward late-summer/autumn instinctive migration from the northern and central United States and southern Canada to Florida and Mexico. During the fall migration, monarchs cover thousands of miles, with a corresponding multigenerational return north in spring. The western North American population of monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains often migrates to sites in southern California, but individuals have been found in overwintering Mexican sites, as well. Non-migratory populations are found further south in the Americas, and in parts of Europe, Oceania, and Southeast Asia. (Wikipedia)
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The Monarchs were gathering at the park in early September, in preparation for their journey to Mexico. Several landed on this thistle to take a drink before heading off across Lake Ontario. A very beautiful sight that distracted me from my main task at hand - identifying shore birds.
Owen Point, Presqu'ile Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. September 2024.
Eastern Ontario Birding.
Monarch (Danaus plexippus) - 20240903-03
Please, no invitations to award groups or to those with large/animated comment codes.
The monarch is a milkweed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. The eastern North American monarch population is notable for its annual southward late-summer/autumn instinctive migration from the northern and central United States and southern Canada to Florida and Mexico. During the fall migration, monarchs cover thousands of miles, with a corresponding multigenerational return north in spring. The western North American population of monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains often migrates to sites in southern California, but individuals have been found in overwintering Mexican sites, as well. Non-migratory populations are found further south in the Americas, and in parts of Europe, Oceania, and Southeast Asia. (Wikipedia)
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The Monarchs were gathering at the park in early September, in preparation for their journey to Mexico. Several landed on this thistle to take a drink before heading off across Lake Ontario. A very beautiful sight that distracted me from my main task at hand - identifying shore birds.
Owen Point, Presqu'ile Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. September 2024.
Eastern Ontario Birding.