Monarch Update

Our monarch butterfly emerged this morning. I've been watching the chrysalis over the last few days as it darkened. A few days before the monarch emerges, the chrysalis become transparent and you can see the dark orange and black wings of the newly formed butterfly. Once out of its chrysalis, it pumps fluid into its crinkled wings and suns its wings to dry them before taking flight. Esther was very excited to see the 'big, beautiful butterfly'. As the wings are so fragile while drying, I didn't let her touch it. I wish we had a tagging kit at home so it could be tracked to Mexico. There are a couple of really neat programs where you place small, numbered stickers on the monarch's wings (no, this doesn't hurt them) and send in the information to a database. Then, local Mexicans are paid to gather the monarchs during their 'hibernation' and record the numbers. This information is placed on a public database. It is a really neat thing for classes and families to do. There are so many things that can be taught using monarchs and migration as a catalyst. Monarch Watch is one organization that we've used at the Garden. Another that covers many migrating species is Journey North. Scientists also use this data to study the species and factors that may be leading to their decline.
Okay, enough environmental education for the day . Can you tell I love what I do?
Here are some photos.

The empty chrysalis

Drying its wings and preparing for life as a butterfly. It is still on our pine, but has started flapping its wings some (I'm looking out the window as I type). I was just able to see that it (she) is a female, which is determined by a black spot on its wings if it is male and lack there of, if it is female. It is easier to see if you are looking at the monarch with its wings open.
She's soon to take off into this world. Good luck!

No, don't touch it! :)