Update: March 14, 2020:
https://apnews.com/93e2577c13244fc10319126fdc1e5cda
2019:
Published accounts have described the terrible loss of pine trees in Mexico as a cause of Monarch butterfly population declines. Because Monarch butterflies migrate between Mexico, Canada and the United States, what happens in the three countries affects the population levels of this species. Published information in this country concedes that pesticide use impacts this species on its migratory pathways and statistics on agricultural chemical use clearly show astronomical increases in the number of pounds of chemicals used in this country over the last twenty years.* The result is that much of this species' decline is undoubtedly connected to agricultural practices in this country, and therefore Mexico is not the only player involved in this wandering species' decline.
Here's the sad thing. Frostweed is an excellent butterfly food source. We used to see Monarchs and related species feasting here every year on their annual migration. Their numbers were mind boggling. Soon after the turn of the 21st century, butterfly numbers decreased slowly until less than five years ago the migration all but stopped. Three or four years ago there was a small burst of late fall migrants, but most of those Monarchs were killed by a hard freeze and there were scattered bodies covering the ground. In the last two years, these plants grow each year and bloom spectacularly, but few butterflies take advantage of this food source as this photo clearly shows. As you see, this photo was taken at the height of Monarch migration, but there are no butterflies feeding on these plants. It's been like that for the last few years, and it's obvious the Monarchs are missing. Other species of plants were fed upon by Monarchs, as you see in these 2008 to 2013 photos, but now these plants flower in the absence of Monarchs on the LBJ Settlement as well. Notably, since 2010, the number of Monarch butterfly photographic moments is spotty at best or missing altogether. Our skies used to be full of butterflies; now it is a rare sight to find one migrating butterfly, let alone hundreds as previously seen. If this is happening all across the Texas Hill County, or if you have seen a similar drop in Monarch numbers, please post a comment below, make a similar observation, and keep your own journal. Here's a good explanation of the decline:
*http://e360.yale.edu/features/tracking_the_causes_of_sharp__decline_of_the_monarch_butterfly
2018 saw a return in numbers to a level of the population average in years past. For the latest projection for 2019, see this article:
https://monarchwatch.org/blog/2019/11/17/monarch-population-status-41/
Here is a more in-depth explanation of the plight of Monarch Butterflies. You can clearly see the decline of populations to today's numbers.
https://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/conservation_overview.html
And an important Monarch Butterfly conservation organization:
There are a number of sockpuppets posting critical comments on various Monarch sites such as this one:
Take care when reading critical comments and look for additional sources about the topic. Of course, we all take those precautions every time we view articles we support, I'm sure. I've noticed internet trolls active on sites wherever environmental or scientific issues are discussed. Basically, these socks are attempting to make you believe their own fake news that everything is fine and there are no environmental problems caused by humans.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/151313979@N08/44777939075/in/dateposted-public/
during fall migration. These days we see many fewer than we used to see.
Butterflies feeding during drought which is about to end with beneficial rains.
on Aster, LBJ National Historical Park, Johnson City, Texas
LBJ National Historical Park, Johnson City, Texas. The way it used to look here in Central Texas. There was even a bivouac in the trees and shrubs on the Settlement, but the NHP cut down the shrubs.
Blooming during severe drought.
Here's the sad thing. This plant is an excellent butterfly food source. We used to see Monarchs and related species feasting here every year on their annual migration. Soon after the turn of the 21st century, butterfly numbers decreased slowly until less than five years ago the migration stopped all together. A few years ago there was a small burst of late fall migrants, but most of those Monarchs were killed by a hard freeze and there were scattered bodies covering the ground. In the last two years, these plants grow each year and bloom spectacularly, but few butterflies take advantage of this full crop as this photo clearly shows. We believe herbicides and pesticides are the cause of this dramatic decline in butterflies on the LBJ National Park Settlement in the fall. If this is happening all across the Texas Hill County, or if you have seen a similar drop in Monarch numbers, make a similar observation. I've placed this observation in my journal as an article. Take a look and give your opinion.
The high point of butterfly migrations and populations in Johnson City occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s suh as this photo from 2009. Another 2009 fall butterfly boom can be seen in this observation.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7492780
There were other years as well, mostly earlier. These days we see few butterflies, especially Monarchs such as this one. There actually was a bivouac where Monarchs slept over on the Settlement until the National Park Service removed the bushes and small trees where the Monarchs slept. The area was immediately adjacent to a good stand of Frostweed upon which many butterflies fed. Was a tremendous sight, but one apparently long gone now.
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One thing that really burns my toast are the feel-good conservation groups that hold their butterfly conference smack in the middle of monarch migration route and season. Hundreds of SUVS driving in to look at the pretty slides of the pretty butterflies on the pretty flowers, and every one of them arrives with butterflies plastered all over the grill.
People people people.
Let me stop there.
Indeed. Also what gets me around here is watching helplessly as the National Park Service and LCRA Pedernales River Nature Park mowing flowers and plant species important to butterflies and trimming trees that were used by Monarchs as bivouacs.
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