[Maine-birds] Monarchs

Sarah is quite right about loss of wintering habitat for monarch butterflies.  The very small area occupied by monarchs in the winter is quite scary now that illegal logging has reduced that habitat.  However, a recent study in the Journal of Animal Ecology stresses that farming in the corn belt with GMO corn combined with the use of Roundup to kill weeds is currently the main problem facing monarchs.  See here: http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/06/decline-of-monarch-butterflies-linked-to-modern-agriculture/ .  The combination of these two factors does not bode well for the return of the monarch to the northeast in large numbers anytime soon.  Hope a few make it here at least.

Thanks, Sarah

Sarah Caputo <catbird338@hotmail.com> Jun 27 01:21AM  

I think lost among the debate on farming practices is the progressive loss of hedgerows in modern farming practices - newer farm equipment plows/chops every field edge these days, both by accident and intentionally. Same thing has happened to hayfields up here and bobolinks and other field birds. Too bad, even a few acres of field edge might help significantly. There are even subsidies available for those postponing mowing to offer a financial incentive for conservation.
I suspect the monarch population might most be related to steady destruction of their fragile winter habitat - a an entire continent's population wintering in a few mountain zones is perilous. 2 years ago I had hundreds of monarchs in my yard, nurtured on a small milkweed patch next to the barn. Last year I had about a dozen. I am hoping population will be better this year.

Bruce Bartrug
Nobleboro, Maine, USA
bbartrug@gmail.com
www.brucebartrug.com

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.  - Albert Einstein

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