Monarch, Miner

To get ready to lead a public walk on the 27th to the Thomas Miner refuge, a place I got to know intimately a couple of years ago when I worked there on a long-running biological survey, I've had to return to re-familiarize myself with its natural history riches. Given that we'll be trekking at the height of Joe Pye Weed season, my hope is that we'll be able to see Monarch Butterflies passing through and getting ready to migrate. This afternoon, on a planning visit, I spotted my quarry... and then some. Monarch numbers are, of course, perilously low, but this past winter, there was clear evidence of a population rebound, and throughout the region, Miner included, the Joe Pyes, goldenrods, milkweeds and other Monarch magnets often play host to the exquisite orange-and-black beauties. This one, whose back wing looks like it might have been chomped on by a bird—the Monarch is noxious-tasting, so the bird will never make that mistake again—was busy fueling up on Joe Pye nectar. I hope the lepidopteran spreads the word to wingmates to stick around until at least the public walk to oblige adoring fans... and photographers.