Mourning cloak emergence

Easter, of course, is the time of resurrection, but regardless of your religious beliefs or lack thereof, spring is most certainly resurrection time as well. Witness the Mourning Cloak butterfly, an exceptionally beautiful species and often the first lepidopteran on the wing. They get a jump on their fellow butterflies because, unlike butterflies that get through the cold times as eggs or pupae, members of the Nymphalis antiopa clan overwinter as adults. They escape the worst of the weather by hiding under tree bark and other suitable refuges, so as soon as the weather warms a bit, they're ready to fly. I've seen them out as early as mid-March, but, not surprisingly, given the winter, they're a bit late this year. Today, appropriately enough, was their day to emerge: a natural resurrection. No sooner did I spot this one sunning itself on the leaf litter than it took to the air after another Mourning Cloak that was in the neighborhood. They circled each other in tight spirals and flew out of sight, perhaps to duke it out for supremacy, perhaps to mate.