Birds are not the only migratory creatures that pass through the Shenandoah Valley on their journey south. Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) migrate through our area from mid-September to early October every year, heading to Mexico. Since 1994, the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) has tracked the population by measuring the total area occupied by monarch colonies at overwintering sites in Mexico. Over the years they noticed a significant decline in the Monarch population, which they connected to weather events like a late spring freeze and periods of drought, along with a diminished food supply. But this year, the population count went up. In fact, it nearly doubled in one year from 2.2 to 4.42 acres. The exact causes of the increase are not known, but these fluctuating numbers show the delicate nature of this species. We can help protect Monarchs on their journey through our area by maintaining our parks and open areas and safeguarding the growth of milkweed and goldenrod, especially in the fall. Want to find out more? Go to https://monarchwatch.org/ to get some free milkweed plants, or participate in the butterfly tagging project.
Photo: Monarch Butterflies Cluster