[Paddlewise] Migrating Monarchs.

It's that time of year again - the Monarch butterflies are migrating south to Mexico.

These seemingly ordinary butterflies live interesting lives.  They winter in Mexico
and in the spring, disperse themselves all over North America.  Biologists have 
tagged them (with ultralight tags - they remove surface material from a patch of 
wing and replace it with a tag!) and found that they are like loons and return to 
the same spot (once, I understand, because their life span is not long).

When those in eastern Canada head south, they are interrupted by the Great Lakes.
They don't want to cross large bodies of water, and so they follow the shores of the 
lakes to points where they can continue their way south.  For example, they follow
the north shore of Lake Ontario to the Niagara region and cross the river to the US.
Some continue along Lake Erie and cross near Detroit/Windsor.  

They migrate singly or in very small groups.  At night, they cluster in huge groups 
and turn entire trees orange and black.  In the morning, they wait till the sun warms
them and continue on.

There are several notable waystations for them.  Leslie Spit (aka, Tommy Thompson Park)
in Toronto is a regular spot in Lake Ontario.  Point Pelee in Lake Erie is another.
Every year, many people converge on these spots to view one of nature's wonders.

A few years ago, I found myself kayaking along Leslie Spit, unaware that I was in the 
migration path.  I saw a few Monarchs, then a few more.  I looked to the east-northeast
and saw still more.  Then I noticed others popping out of the distance.  They were not
resolvable at a distance; suddenly they would be visible as little black specks fluttering
towards me.  Most passed by and headed to the Spit a hundred meters or so to my right.

Some paused on their way.  When they did, I stopped paddling.  They hovered over me.  
With an orange PFD and yellow decked kayak, I must have looked like a giant flower to 
them.  I'm not sure whether they wanted to feed on me or rest.  Those that hovered usually 
went on.  Only one landed, on the narrowest part of the bow.  It sat quietly for a moment 
then continued its flight.  

I was amazed at the numbers.  In the hour or so in that area, I saw hundreds of them.  Almost
all were alone.  No matter what direction I looked in the east,  I would see one, then another 
and another.

I should imagine that some will follow Lake Huron or Superior to cross at the Sault, while
others cross the border at the west end of Superior.   In the southern US, they funnel themselves
through Texas.   If you ever get a chance, you should try to target one of these places and see 
it for yourself.  Mid-September, give or take a week here in southern Ontario; if you look, you 
should find something in the local media on it for times in your area.  I haven't found a single 
suitable web site, but I'm sure one's out there.

Mike

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