Migratory activity has been finally speeding up for the season, and our team is very eager to be out and about on the point with monarchs abounding. Typical for this time of the season, fewer are being found nectaring on thoroughwort while more and more are choosing to feed off of butterfly bush. This transition will continue, and eventually seaside goldenrod will provide nectar for migrating monarchs.
With falcons soaring and diving across the point, Friday's cloudy weather and strong winds put a temporary halt on monarch activity in Cape May. However, this was the perfect opportunity to go out and find monarchs in their other stages of metamorphosis.
In addition to tagging migratory monarchs, the MMP also raises a small number of monarchs from eggs and caterpillars at the Cape May Bird Observatory's Northwood Center. If you're in the area, it is definitely worth coming to check out our tanks, where eggs are hatching and caterpillars are demolishing fresh milkweed faster than we can supply it. It is a bustling terrarium, and if you're lucky, maybe you'll see a caterpillar pupate, or a chrysalis eclose.
When the tagging has been slow, in our daily travels Sarah and I have come across an interesting array of other caterpillars we'd like to share.
Happy caterpillaring!
[Post by 2018 Field Naturalist Lindsey Cathcart]
[Post by 2018 Field Naturalist Lindsey Cathcart]