Sachem

[Epmanshell at aol.com]

Hi Harry,
 
I agree with your comment that the Sachems appearing here in CT in all  
presumably migrated from the New York City area.
 
As a former Long Island resident, I can confirm that Sachem has become  
established on western Long Island since the late 1980's or early  1990's. It's 
also been my experience that while Sachem's can tolerate  mild winters on Long 
Island, it appears that a cold winter will  dramatically reduce the Sachem 
population.
 
The first time Sachems appeared in CT in the early years of this decade,  
circa 2002, it was after a series of mild winters allowed the  Sachem population 
on Long Island to build up.  In support of  that statement, I note that was 
the year the Muttontown, Long Island  4th of July butterfly count reported a 
large number, perhaps 200+ Sachems.   Since the Muttontown 4th of July Count 
circle is on the north shore of Long  Island, it was not surprising Sachems made 
it up to coastal CT later that  summer.  I also note that the winter of 
2002-2003 was very cold and the  Sachem population on Long Island appeared to have 
crashed.  Not  surprisingly, few Sachems, if any, appeared in CT in the next few 
years.
 
Since then, we have experienced a series of mild winters and while I do not  
have the data, I suspect the Long Island Sachem population is once again  
building up and we are seeing migrants from Long Island.
 
I am not disputing at all your comment about Sachems being numerous in  
drought years in VA.  However, because we are further north, I suspect  that here 
in CT, mild winters that allow nearby Sachem populations build up  is a more 
important factor.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Lenny Brown
Wallingford, CT 



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