HOW TO HELP MONARCHS REBOUND

[Paul Cherubini]

Bob wrote:

> The monarch's winterroosts are fragile as you well know. If
> the density of trees change the, the temp changes and so on...the
> monarch's freeze.

> Three years ago, data was introduced showing a correllation at the
> higher elevations of mean temperature being being lower as density of
> fir trees was lessened. 

> As far as forestry in general I onley approve of clearcutting in
> relatively small "blocks" since it does afterall encourage
> biodiversity.

While the media stories often mention "clear cutting" or "decreases
in forest density" in the monarch reserves in Mexico, they never
actually show any pictures to prove it really occurs because it doesn't.
(with minor exceptions described below)

This is how beautiful the forests really look like at Mexico's 
two largest monarch reserves
(where 70% of the monarch overwinter):

Feb. 23, 2002
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/chincuadis.JPG

Feb. 23, 2002
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/elrosariodis.jpg

Now it's true that in a few places there are small patch cuts, 
property line boundary cuts, fire break cuts or utility line cuts. But
like I said before, monarchs are often found clustering / nectaring 
/ sunning / drinking water at these spots.  In other words, these 
disturbances inadvertently provide habitat resources for the
butterflies.

Examples:

A properly line cut exploited by the butterflies for sunning and 
nectaring:
Feb. 25, 2002 http://www.saber.net/~monarch/chincuasun.JPG

A tiny patch cut exploited by the butterflies for clustering and 
drinking water Feb. 25, 2002:
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/chincuaex.JPG
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/waterchincua.JPG
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/chincuacreek.JPG

Paul Cherubini

 
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