I happened to be driving along Interstate 8 (right along the Mexican border) from Yuma through El Centro the last week of March, and saw this migration. It was amazing! It wasn't that the butterflies were so thick, but that they went on for about 50 miles! They were flying steadily from south to north. You'd usually see 4 -10 at a time. Unfortunately, they were flying about 3 feet off the ground across the freeway with predictable results. When we stopped, our car looked like it had been egged.


Christy Anderson
Bellevue WA
christyrae at hotmail.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Dawn Bailey
To: Tweeters
Sent: Sunday, April 10, 2005 1:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] early spring migrants - OT question


Hi Brett and tweeters:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7434926/

they must be amazing to see in person!


Dawn Bailey
Eatonville, WA
mailto:dawnsdog at rainierconnect.com

"Who is the happier man he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on the shore and merely existed?"
~Hunter S. Thompson



----- Original Message -----
From: Brett Wolfe
To: Bob Flores ; Tweeters ; Inland Birds
Sent: Sunday, April 10, 2005 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] early spring migrants - OT question


Hey tweets, this brought up a question for me, but not about birds. The butterfly migration of Painted Ladies has been the largest in many years apparently. Down here in the San Joaquin Valley outside Modesto, a few days ago it was almost like a steady blowing of snow, but the snow was butterflies headed pretty much due north. Has anyone in Washington (or Oregon or Idaho for that matter) seen the vanguard of this migration? It has been incredible! The birds are certainly eating well - they hang out by the road and jump down to get any butterflies hit by cars. And the Black Phoebe's, Yellow-rumps and Barn/Cave/Tree Swallows all hawk them out of the air. The migration has slowed significantly down here, making me wonder how far north they have gotten. Feel free to answer me off the list, but others might like to hear responses as well. Thanks!

Brett A. Wolfe
Seattle, WA (but San Joaquin Valley for the summer)
m_lincolnii at yahoo.com





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