Monarch Migration

When asked what she would do should she have her life to live over, the great American humorist, Erma Bombeck, replied, “I would take every opportunity to assist God with a miracle.”

Wow, I think Pat and I sure did!!!

There are several generations in the monarch migration back to Mexico. Most monarchs live only a few weeks, enough time to fly to their next location, lay eggs, and die. The last monarch group will live up to 8 months, enough time to travel to Mexico and wait out winter, then reproduce and die. Monarchs at Duck Harbor in summer are those hearty travelers. When released, they have the long journey.

Aware of the diminishing monarch population, Pat and I decided to give raising them a try. Once we saw the caterpillars munching on the milkweed, we knew what we were looking for. In a short time, we found monarch eggs or caterpillars on the plentiful milkweed around Duck Harbor. We fed them and watched the miracle of transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly.

During August, over 25 monarch butterflies were released from our cages to start the long journey to Mexico.

And now, when we least expect it, a monarch flutters by; we smile and remember the miracle. You can’t help but be in awe—nothing short of a miracle.