So on to this post.  I’m guessing that most folks don’t think about Butterflies two days before Christmas, but I wanted to share our Monarch Butterfly story.

While we didn’t see many Monarch Butterflies during the migration, we saw several after the expected migration, and we had quite a bit of Milkweed.  The result?

Lots of Monarch Butterfly Chrysalises!

Carrier Full Of Monarch Chrysalises

We’ve only had a couple of really cold days in Houston (we moved the Milkweed to the garage during that time) with the majority of the Winter being quite nice.  Apparently the Monarch Caterpillars like it as well as it’s given them some time to stock up on eating Milkweed.  Since we knew it was supposed to get a little cold and rainy (just 38 degrees or so), we decided to bring the Chrysalises indoors.  The result is what you see above.  Those black dots next to a couple of the Chrysalises are the skin of the Caterpillars.

We don’t just leave them in this little carrier, Leecy glues them to these cardboard things we have.  I’ll try and post a picture or video of that within the next couple of days so you can see how we do that.  Once the Butterfly emerges we release them as long as it’s reasonably sunny and above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pretty neat huh?

What I’ve also noticed is that these Butterflies are mating, and in the case of other males, chasing each other.

Monarch With With Wings Spread Wide In Early Morning Sun

Clean Monarch Butterfly Feeding On Red Zinnia

We’ve also located several (around 15 at last count) Monarch Caterpillars on the Milkweed.  The two guys are the picture below were so tiny I almost didn’t see them.  It’s been like this for several days; we check the Milkweed for Caterpillars, see none, and assume there are none.  Two days later, we see little Caterpillars like these.

Two Tiny Monarch Caterpillars Feeding Off Same Leaf

There are also several large Caterpillars on the Milkweed.  I brought them inside for one day since it was a little chilly, then took them back outside the next day since the weather has been really nice.

Large Monarch Caterpillar Upside Down In Between Two Milkweed Stems

As I’ve mentioned hundreds of times already, these Butterflies (and others) are drawn to the nectar in the Zinnia gardens.  This is definitely a plant I’m going to keep.  For what it’s worth, they are most attracted to the yellow and orange Zinnias, along with the occasional Pink.  They seem to avoid the red ones.  Although I have Milkweed all over the yard, I haven’t seen many frequent the flowers on there near as much as the Zinnia.

Monarch Butterfly Getting Nectar On Pink And Yellow Zinnias

Male Monarch Getting Nectar On Pink And Red Zinnias

Female Fall 2011 Migration Monarch On Milkweed

Another little interesting tidbit.  Whereas the big Fall Monarch Migration of 2011 have had reports of the Monarchs in Texas, to the best of my knowledge no large colonies have been seen around the Houston area, nor have any of the folks I know reported seeing a big influx of Monarch Butterflies.  Personally I am expecting larger sightings of migrating Monarchs within the next 2 weeks.

If you’re reading this and located along the Texas Gulf Coast, have you been seeing Monarchs?  Let me know, I’m curious!

The picture below is just one of the 5 Monarch Caterpillars I found.  All but one are this size, so it would seem that some Monarchs visited the backyard 1-2 weeks ago.  The background are the flowers from our Zinnia garden.

Monarch Caterpillar On Milkweed Stem Against Zinnia Background

Let’s talk about here in Texas.  Next week they are forecasting more 100 degree temperatures.  I’m really starting to see the effects of the drought in my own backyard.  I’m only watering twice a week and now that’s not enough.  I could probably water all day long and it wouldn’t be enough.  I have brown patches throughout my yard (it’s just grass so I’m not distraught over that).  The trees, not only in my yard, but across Houston, are turning brown, or are already dead.  I read a news report that suggested this drought in Texas may last another year.  When I do water, it brings out every living creature as I’m sure they are dying of thirst.

I’ve never had Honeybees swarm my Hummingbird feeders and bird baths to get water.

Honeybees Drinking Sugar Water From Hummingbird Feeder

What will this mean for the Monarch Butterfly migration.  On Journey South’s posting this week, Dr. Lincoln Brower thinks that the Monarchs will have a really hard time building up their fat reserves once they enter Texas on their way to Mexico.  I can certainly see this.  I can almost guarantee you that other than from the concerned Butterfly gardeners, there will be little Milkweed and/or nectar plants in the wild that have done well during this drought.

What about the Ruby Throated Hummingbird migration?  Once again I’d be willing to bet that the Hummingbirds will have a tough time as well for the same reasons I mentioned above.

As I sit here and analyze myself, I guess this weather saddens me, and makes me angry.  When I go out the in backyard and see all those brown leaves, I get frustrated because I know at this point I simply can’t water enough (plus I’m trying to do my part to conserve).  My backyard has always been my little private sanctuary, and seeing how the plant and animal life is struggling is tough.  It’s worse driving around Houston.  You see these big giant Oak trees dying.  You can’t replace those, they are decades old.  Pine trees, so many are dead.  Lakes and ponds are completely dry.  Migrating birds this winter will have it tough.  I can’t imagine any gardener or wildlife lover enjoying what’s happening right now.  I realize some things you can’t control and this is certainly one of those “things”, but it’s driving me nuts.

Alright, venting over for the moment.  I’m starting to see more Ruby Throated Hummingbirds.  Those that choose to hang around my yard will have plenty of sugar water to drink.  One of the recent males that is visiting we are calling “Mr. Soul Patch.” We gave him that name because of that little speck of white on the bottom part of his beak (or is it bill)?

Mr. Soul Patch Male Ruby Throat

For those just reading the blog, these Monarch Butterflies that were released today are all from the original female Monarch Butterfly we saw in 2011 (and likely migrated from Mexico).  Overall, I’d say she had a pretty successful brood (is that what they call a bunch of Butterflies?).  When all is said and done, I’d estimate that we will have released close to 50 Monarch Butterflies from this single female.

Now on to the pictures.

My original intention was to film the release of the Monarch Butterflies as Leecy opened the Butterfly Enclosure.  That failed as Leecy opened the top of the Butterfly Enclosure and the Butterflies didn’t even move.  So, Leecy decided to put a few in her hair before allowing them to fly off.

Leecy Gets A New Hair Piece With Monarch Butterflies

Then as soon as 7 of the Butterflies were released, another emerged from a Chrysalis.

Newly Eclosed Monarch Butterfly In Butterfly Enclosure

Not long after that, yet another Butterfly emerged from its Chrysalis and began crawling up the mesh on the Butterfly Enclosure.

Monarch Butterfly Beginning To Stretch Wings Next To Old Chrysalis

Then for whatever reason, both the newly emerged Butterflies decided to slowly inflate their wings together.

Two Newly Hatched Monarch Butterflies Inflating Wings

While these two Monarchs were inflating their wings, I went to take pictures of the Monarchs that we had released earlier.

First there was a female Monarch on the Milkweed stretching her wings.

Monarch Butterfly Basking In Sun On Milkweed

Then a male Monarch was sunning on the purple Bachelor Button Wildflowers.

New Male Monarch Butterfly On Purple Bachelor Button

Then a female Monarch who had been flying around rested nearby the male.  These pictures weren’t staged, I just got lucky.

Monarch Butterflies On Purple Bachelor Button Flowers

Monarch Caterpillars Fighting Over Milkweed

I was totally surprised when I went outside to check on them and found out that they were clustering on the two remaining Milkweed plants they had not already devoured.  I’m going to have to buy more Milkweed again.  I thought I would probably have enough, but now I’m not so sure.

I did see a Monarch Butterfly today but he/she never came close to where I was or at least where I could take a picture.  Perhaps tomorrow.

Large Butterfly Enclosure Protecting Monarch Caterpillars

There are six Milkweed plants in the Enclosure.  With so many Monarch Caterpillars, I don’t expect these plants to have many remaining leaves after a few day.  I still have a quite a few other Milkweed plants that I can rotate into the enclosure when the leaves have been eaten.

We stopped counting after 50, but if I had to guess, I’d say we have 55-60 Monarch Caterpillars right now.  Each time we check the Milkweed plants that are not in the enclosure, we tend to find another 1-2 Caterpillars.

Notice how they are roughly all the same size?  I think that’s because they all came from the first female Monarch we saw a few weeks ago.

Monarch Caterpillars Devouring Milkweed Plant

Additional Monarch Caterpillars On Milkweed Plant

The good news for the Caterpillars is that they should be safe from any predators.  The lizards are eyeing up the enclosure like crazy, but they shouldn’t be able to get in.  Although many birds tend to avoid the Monarch Caterpillars, I wanted to be on the safe side and protect them from any birds that might look for an easy meal, or those pesky red Paper Wasps.

It’s rather interesting as all of these Monarch Caterpillars are roughly the same size.

Monarch Caterpillars From First Wintering Monarch

I even recording a brief video of just one of our Milkweed plants and all of the Caterpillars.  Any guess as to how many Caterpillars are in this video?

This is only our second Monarch we have seen this season.  The first one that appeared laid a ton of eggs, and now those eggs have become Caterpillars.  If this latest visitor is as successful, I’m likely going to need some new Milkweed!

Second Female Monarch From Mexico Laying Eggs

Second Female Monarch From Mexico Getting Nectar In Wildflowers

Second Female Monarch From Mexico Laying Lots Of Eggs

Second Female Monarch From Mexico Getting Nectar From Red Wildflowers

I just checked some of our Milkweed plants tonight, and many of them are covered in Monarch Caterpillars.  The picture below is just one plant (and not one of our better ones) and I count 10 Monarch Caterpillars on this one.

Ten Monarch Caterpillars On Milkweed

On another plant, I counted at least 2.

Monarch Caterpillars Crawling Towards Newer Milkweed

Many of our other Milkweed plants also have Caterpillars but I haven’t had the chance to count them all.  From what I can tell, all of these eggs, and now Caterpillars, are from the single female Monarch we saw a few weeks ago.  In the latest update from Journey North, they are reporting that huge numbers are migrating out of Mexico and that the leading edge of the migration has already entered Oklahoma.  That being the case, I’m hopeful that we will see more Monarchs later this week (although I also may end up needing to buy more Milkweed).

I have a day 5 update on the Carolina Chickadee babies.  Of the original 6 eggs, five of them hatched, but only 4 chicks remain.  I’m not sure what happened to the other chick.  Do the parents remove a baby if it doesn’t survive?  I’m pretty sure it wasn’t due to a predator.

Although I wasn’t able to get any quality pictures, we had a flock of Cedar Waxwings land in my Maple Tree this evening.  We’ve noticed a flock of about a dozen flying overhead in the evenings, but have never seen them near the backyard before today.  Just for kicks, I’m going to put out some grapes and some jelly and see if I can get them to feed in the backyard.  I would love to take a good picture of one of them!

Check back starting tomorrow for new (and hopefully better quality) pictures of Butterflies, Caterpillars, and Birds.

First are the Eastern Black Swallowtail Caterpillars.  We have quite a few of these now, we’ve counted around 20, but our Fennel is so thick, I’m sure there are some we are missing.

In this picture, you can see 3 of them.  They are all around the same size.

Three Eastern Black Swallowtail Caterpillars On Fennel

This picture below is of a different Fennel plant.  In this picture you can only see two.  I’ll get my macro lens out soon and take some close up shots, as they way these Caterpillars look now is nothing how they look once they get a bit bigger.

Two Eastern Black Swallowtail Caterpillars On Fennel

Our Monarch Caterpillars are a bit tricky to get pictures of right now.  All of our Milkweed is quite small, as are the Caterpillars.  To the best of my knowledge, these Caterpillars are all from the same female Monarch that we saw a couple of weeks ago.  We haven’t seen one Monarch since then (which is rather strange actually).

Are other people seeing Monarchs right now in the Houston area?  I would have thought we would have seen several by now, but either they are visiting during the afternoon when we aren’t here, or they just haven’t been around.  I’m going to assume the latter, as we haven’t seen any new eggs on the Milkweed.

Young Monarch Caterpillars On New Milkweed

Based on the number of eggs I have seen her laying, we should have lots of caterpillars in a  couple of weeks.  Actually, even though I have lots of Milkweed plants, the new leaves are just starting to appear, so I’ll undoubtedly need to get some new Milkweed pretty soon to feed them.

You can also tell from the picture, that those darn Aphids are back.  I spray them off with water every couple of days, but it’s a never ending cycle.

Female Monarch Butterfly From Mexico Laying Eggs On New Milkweed

For a Monarch who has possibly lived for 9 months, I’d say overall she doesn’t look that bad.  She has some worn spots on her wing, but otherwise looks pretty good for her age.

Female Monarch Butterfly From Mexico Laying Eggs Wings Half Open

Call this next picture, “accidental high key photography.”  The background is from the decking of my pool which is pretty white, which is what makes this picture look so bright.  There’s also a lovely distracting twig right in the middle of the picture, but, for taking a picture of a wild Monarch, I’m okay with it for now.

High Key Female Monarch Butterfly From Mexico Laying Eggs

You can see in the picture below that she’s laying eggs, unfortunately she was a bit shy, and the head is not shown.

First Female Monarch From Mexico Laying Eggs 2011

In the picture below, you can see her head, but I really don’t care for the picture.  The light is too bright, the background is bad, but hey, at least I got a picture of her I guess.

Female Monarch Laying Eggs On Young Milkweed

I promise, is she’s around tomorrow, I’ll get much better pictures!

Speaking of Monarch Butterflies, we currently have 8 Chrysalises, 2 Caterpillars (who are likely sick..I’ll explain shortly), and 4 adult Monarchs who just emerged from their Chrysalises today.

About the sick Caterpillars.  We’ve been running low on Milkweed so we purchased several one gallon plants the other day.  Finding Milkweed at any of the nurseries is a real challenge right now as it is January.  When we purchased these new plants, we cut off a couple of stalks to feed it to the 4 Caterpillars that we needed to feed.

Well, it appears the Milkweed was likely sprayed with some chemical.  One Caterpillar spent the last 24 hours writhing on the bottom of the enclosure.  I couldn’t stand watching that anymore, so I finally put it out of its misery and into the freezer.  Another Caterpillar that ate some of the new Milkweed actually formed the familiar “J” shape, but was having a heck of a time forming a Chrysalis.  I watched it most of the day, and it was bending and flexing in directions that I haven’t seen a Monarch Caterpillar do before.  Tonight, it made it to the Chrysalis stage, and it was a mess.  It was extremely misshapen, and fell off the top of the enclosure.  It was still wiggling several hours after it formed a Chrysalis, so I decided to put that one of its misery as well.

That leaves to Caterpillars who have spent the last day and a half just doing circles around the enclosure.  I removed the sprayed Milkweed and put in some Milkweed that was growing in the backyard that I know is safe.  These two Caterpillars haven’t touched it.  Even when I place them on the leaves, they crawl off and start wandering around.  My guess is that they are poisoned (although maybe not as much as the others were), but I seriously doubt they will make it.  They’re spending an enormous amount of energy crawling around the cage and never stop.

So what’s the lesson here?  Be careful on the Milkweed you buy.  I bought from a nursery I really trust, but these things can happen.  Strangely enough, I always like to see a few Aphids on Milkweed as that usually indicates the Milkweed has not been treated.  The nursery was told by the grower that they purchased it from that it was not treated.  Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t, or maybe another plant was sprayed in their greenhouse and it landed on the Milkweed.  Just be careful is all I’m saying.  The only true way to know you are getting untreated Milkweed is to grow it yourself, but when it’s the middle of January, unless you have a greenhouse or are growing some indoors, you may not have a choice.

Now on to more positive news.  The Male Monarch that I released today spent several minutes sunning himself before flying off, and that gave me an opportunity to take a few pictures.

In this first picture, I was using my new 300 f2.8 lens without a teleconverter.

January Male Monarch Butterfly Sunning

In this second picture, I used the same lens, but added the 1.4x teleconverter.

January Male Monarch Butterfly Sunning Before Flight

Tomorrow (Saturday) it’s supposed to be a beautiful, sunny day, so Leecy and I are planning on taking a trip down to Brazos Bend State Park.  I may take the 4 Monarch Butterflies that eclosed today down there as well to release them.