No Shortage of Monarchs in Northern Illinois...

[mbpi at juno.com]

Hello, all..

In my usual random, hypothetical vs. scientific approach to bird and
butterfly observations, I am going to throw a fly-in-the oatmeal with my
summer sightings thus far...

While everyone here in Chicago is "wringing their hands" over the decline
in Crow populations and other songbird species...which is still open for
speculation on whether it can be attributed to West Nile Virus or end of
breeding-season dispersal...I've been taking stock of the butterflies and
birds in the parameters of my daily wanderings.  

I am comparing this year with last year...and despite the mind-blowing
construction projects all over the Museum Campus (where I work), and the
removal of major butterfly roosting trees and nectar sources, there have
been noticabally more butterflies (and birds) on the Museum Campus this
year, than last year before construction (!)  Monarchs are literally
everywhere along the Lake Michigan shoreline and Grant Park which flanks
Lake Shore Drive.  Orange and Clouded Sulphurs have been in large numbers
as well, and even Skippers (which aren't normally seen on the Museum
Campus), have been well represented.  These, along with the one-day
erruption of Hackberry butterflies (which surprised the Leps Curator of
the Field Museum when I told him), have led me to believe that the
unusual, prevailing weather patterns that have predominated this summer,
have contributed to a localized "boom" for particular species.

Granted, there has been a dirth of Vanessas anywhere...not unexpected
after last year's "bumper crop."  But I had an unexpected Comma take up
residence for two weeks earlier in the summer, over the garbage cans in
the alley behind my house, who was quite vigilent over his "booty."

Crows, sparrows and blackbirds are also well-represented on the Museum
Campus...though I've noted that the Crows are recently staying "up high"
on the roofs of the Museum Campus rather than coming down to ground
level...

As an adjunct:  there has been an unusual number of Mantids and
Dragonflies this year (!)  Everyone is talking about them...especially
the Mantids which are rarely observed.  Everyone has a "Mantid story..."

My conjecture on all of this has to do with our unusual
weather...starting with a long, cold, wet spring followed by an
oppressively hot, dry summer that culminated in several days of flooding
in late August.

All of the aforementioned sightings are localized and sporadic, depending
on the predominating weather patterns, and who knows what else.  Being
situated on the Great Lakes affords unique, localized weather patterns,
resulting in pockets of abundance counterpointed by areas lacking in any
notable sightings.  Habitat seems to be irrelevant from a cursary
appraisal.

Even the fall bird migration is having a stellar year on the Museum
Campus...despite the lack of trees and construction.

Go figure!!!

M.B. Prondzinski
Evanston/Chicago
USA

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