#winterwings — Public Fediverse posts

🦋 Monarchs are arriving along California’s coast — and gathering in clusters for the winter.

Early counts show thousands of butterflies settling into trees at Natural Bridges, Lighthouse Field, Pacific Grove, Marin, and Pismo Beach.

Monarchs are ectothermic — they rely on sunlight for warmth. Clustering doesn’t generate heat, but it protects them from rain and wind. Each butterfly that lands signals to others: this is a good tree.

I’ll never forget the first time I looked up and realized the “leaves” I’d been staring at were butterflies. Once you see it, the trees come alive.
Swipe to see where you can responsibly view monarchs this winter!

Learn more about visiting and protecting these amazing pollinators: https://xerces.org/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-visiting-overwintering-monarchs

Subscribe for updates on monarch sightings this season at https://westernmonarchcount.org/.

📸 Photo by Cricket Raspet

#MonarchMigration #WinterWings #PollinatorPathways #CaliforniaNature #NatureRabbitHole #Nature #Wildlife #Monarchs