Western Monarchs Overwintering at Pismo Beach, California

February 5 is California Western Monarch Day, established by the state Legislature in 2004.  California Western Monarch Day celebrates the annual migratory return of the Western Monarch Butterfly to the central coast of California to spend the winter during October through March.

Thousands of Western Monarch Butterflies overwinter on the California coast each year.  One of the most popular spots for the Western Monarchs is Pismo Beach, California.  As of January, 23 , 2012 the count is more than 23,000 monarchs at the Pismo Beach Grove. The migration draws many visitors along the central coast.  The migration of the monarch butterfly is studied and celebrated by school children in California, across the United States, and in Mexico.

EVENTS

Mile Square Regional Park ~ Saturday, February 4th, 2012

This is the 2rd annual Monarch Butterfly Day at Mile Square Park. Children and families are welcome to come learn about the California Western Monarch Butterfly and its habitat with an up-close look at the magnificent creatures while they flutter through the Butterfly Garden and inside a netted butterfly enclosure in the park’s Camp Sycamore. Children can help the Butterfly Garden continue to grow by planting native plants in the garden to attract Monarch Butterflies. More than 140 plants will be available for planting on February 4th. Butterfly experts will also be on-site to provide educational information and answer questions about the beautiful and unique specimens.  Additional event activities include children’s crafts, face painting, guided nature walks through Mile Square Regional Park’s nature area. Each child in attendance will receive native seeds as a take away to continue to help build safe habitats for Monarch Butterflies and other creatures.

Event Time: 10:00 to 2:00
Event Fee: Event is free
Parking Fee: $5 per vehicle
Age: Recommended for ages 4 to 12
Special Instructions: Please be advised rain will cancel the event.

Mile Square Park
16801 Euclid
Fountain Valley, California 92708
(714)973-6600 or (714)973-3197

Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove ~ Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Plans are in place for a joyful celebration of Western Monarch Day at the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove. There will be butterfly talks and educational booths for adults, as well as art activities for children. The main attraction, however, is the thousands of Monarchs hanging in huge clusters from the eucalyptus and pine trees in the grove. The grove will remain open through the month of February from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm with docents providing daily talks at 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm. For more information, please visit www.MonarchButterfly.org

Times: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Parking: Free
Admission Fee: Free

Monarch Butterfly Grove
Monarch Butterfly Grove, Hwy. 1
Pismo Beach, California
(805) 773.7034

Citizen Science Butterfly Count in Limestone Canyon ~ February 5th, 2012

Join staff and local butterfly experts on IRC’s annual butterfly count! We will be recording number and types of butterflies encountered along the trails of Limestone Canyon. Our butterfly count will provide a benchmark estimate of diversity and number of these beautiful insects to compare to future local surveys and to larger patterns being compiled nationwide. Be prepared to learn about some new species if you’re new to this activity, or to share your appreciation and knowledge of butterflies.

Time: 8:30 AM
Activity Type: Citizen Science
Distance: 2+ miles
Duration: 5 hour(s)
Guided: Docent-Led
Reservations needed
Event is limited to space, please visit the IRC’s Website to sign up for a reservation.

They are a breath of beauty fluttering by They are mystery chronicled upon wing They bring forth the grace and wonder of this world to our eyes everyday ~K. D’Angelo