Photos of urban monarch overwintering sites in California

[Barbara Page]

I've seen, heard and Paul's extremely professional profession that he has
given in front of many leading researchers and he never has condoned the
destruction of habitat.  He has simply documented the fact that Monarchs in
California seem to do 'fine' when they cluster directly over a six lane
highway (now that is a photo I wish all could see) or over someone's
'ranchero'.   They even cluster in some very arid locations.
 
Unless the state of California begins limiting the number and types of trees
that can be planted on private property (I'm dense sometimes, maybe this is
already the case!) the Monarchs won't run out of overwintering sites.  Paul
is more of a helpful activist in this arena than most folks believe.  He
gets many calls and advises interested corporations and other folks with
private property on what types of trees to plant if they are interested in
creating or maintaining enviroments to which Monarchs are typically
attracted.  A pro-active approach with interested companies and individuals
in creating attractive environments seems to be a good approach.
 
Barbara Page
professional lepidopterist wannabe
mostly leps lurker
accepting donations for plane tickets to Morelia.....
frumpy housewife in Pittsburgh
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: "DR. JAMES ADAMS" <JADAMS at em.daltonstate.edu>
To: <leps-l at lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 9:37 AM
Subject: Re: Photos of urban monarch overwintering sites in California
 
 
> Paul Cherubini wrote:
>
> > All three of these golf course overwintering sites were created
> > inadvertently during the period between 1930-1975 when exotic
> > Australian eucalyptus trees were planted during golf course
> > construction. They are a fine example of how the tree planting
> > that routinely accompany's real estate development, often
> > inadvertently creates new monarch habitats (although sometimes also
> > destroys existing habitats). Thus, it seems inconceivable that
> > California monarchs could ever "run out" of suitable overwintering
> > habitats since mankind will always be building golf courses, city
> > parks, cemeteries and similar green belts within our largest urban
> > centers.
>
> Two things:
>
> 1.  To give Paul credit, he does mention destruction of habitat for
> other species in creating golf courses, etc.  Even though it *might*
> provide habitat for Monarchs, I don't think we want to run around
> condoning destruction of natural habitat on the off chance that it
> provides Monarch overwintering grounds.
>
> 2.  Just because *past* development practices have led to some
> apparent appropriate Monarch habitat does *not* mean
> development practices are the same today, or will remain the same
> in the future.  You *cannot* assume that golf courses built today
> will actually provide appropriate Monarch habitat.
>
> james
>
> Dr. James K. Adams
> Dept. of Natural Science and Math
> Dalton State College
> 213 N. College Drive
> Dalton, GA  30720
> Phone: (706)272-4427; fax: (706)272-2533
> U of Michigan's President James Angell's
>   Secret of Success: "Grow antennae, not horns"
>
>
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