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Monarch butterflies are beloved throuought North America, and on the Pacific Coast they can occasionally be found wintering in large numbers in protected groves of trees (apparently they seek relatively cool, moist areas that are at low risk of freezing). These were in Point Lobos State Reserve (near Carmel, California) in old Monterey pine trees festooned with Usnea lichens. A very helpful park ranger directed us to the site and said there were about 7,000 individuals in all. I took the pictures with a long telephoto lens and electronic flash, as it was a drizzly, overcast day and the butterflies were high in the trees. |
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