@cliff.stone: I managed to get a few decent shots of a monarch butterfly as they are actively migrating through Oklahoma and the southern Plains right now as part of their annual autumn journey to Mexico. Late October marks the peak movement window for the southern Plains and upper South as the butterflies press onward toward their overwintering sanctuaries in central Mexico. Wildlife researchers report an encouraging second consecutive year of growth for the eastern monarch population, aided by favorable late-season nectar availability and weather conditions. Their life cycle/migratory patterns look something like: First Generation (Spring): Overwintering butterflies leave Mexico in March, fly north into the southern United States, mate, lay eggs on milkweed, and die. Second and Third Generations (Summer): These short-lived generations (living about 2 to 6 weeks) emerge across northern and midwestern regions, continuously mating and laying eggs to push the population further north. Fourth Generation / "Super Generation" (Fall): Born in late summer or fall, this generation enters a state of diapause (delayed reproduction). Instead of living only a few weeks, they live 6 to 9 months and fly up to 3,000 miles to overwinter in central Mexico or coastal California. In the spring, these same surviving fourth-generation butterflies begin flying back north, mate, lay the first generation of eggs for the new year, and pass away. #beautiful #monarch #butterfly #eating #flowers

Cliff Stone

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Region: US

Saturday 24 October 2026 22:26:29 GMT