Short Winter

[Bob Barber]

Butterflies were out in southern new Jersey into early January, including a
very tardy Red Admiral, numerous Orange Sulphur, and the more expected
Mourning Cloak and Question Mark.  We have had no severe weather in the
interim, with only a trace of snow.

Mourning Cloak and Question Mark were again out beginning  February 21, and
on February 26, the staff at Cape May Bird Observatory reported a number of
Spring Azure already flying, along with Mourning Cloak, Comma, and Question
Mark.  The moderate weather is predicted to continue, and I expect Henry's
Elfin to be out with the next warm spell.   March of 1997 was also
unusually warm and these species were flying by mid-month, but to have them
in February is truly amazing.




================================================
Bob Barber <bob at vertigo.hsrl.rutgers.edu>
Rutgers University - Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences
Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory -Histology/Pathology
New Jersey  USA
Lat. 39 19.574N   Long. 074 58.113W