The Monarch Butterfly Migration - Up Close and Personal

Thousands of monarch butterflies in migration were crossing the Mississippi Sound - and they were using the bridge!   It is a sight I will never forget. The bridge stretched 1.5 miles over the water and cars often travelled far above the 50 mph speed limit across the four lane span.

That bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina (see header photo at www.1disaster-recovery.com ) and was a straight four lane span with a speed limit of 55 mph, but where cars routinely crossed at 70 mph or more.  As there was a drawbridge in the center hurried across lest they be caught in a dreaded 15 minute traffic stop when the bridge opened for passing fishing boats.

On that day, though, no car appeared to be going faster than 10-15 mph.  Many of us simply stopped in the middle of the bridge and left our cars to watch the spectacle.  The orange and black butterflies were everywhere and though they appeared to flit here and there individually, as a group the moved with purpose across the bridge.

That bridge is finally due to re-open partially in November 2008 and I wonder each year if the monarchs take the same path across the Sound.

Butterflies have captured the imagination for many generations.  Their lovely wings and graceful ways are featured in art and jewelry, used for weddings and kites, and even butterfly feeders are available.

In our family, the name for these winged insects is "flutterby"....because my son insisted "it's what they DO".

	Breeden wins 200 butterfly at U.S. women's swimming trials (Sports Illustrated) Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:27:41 GMT Elaine Breeden has won the 200-meter butterfly at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials with a time of 2 minutes, 6.75 seconds.
	Butterfly conservation in Vietnam (Radio Singapore International) Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:04:24 GMT The butterfly’s brightly coloured wings and it’s free fluttering motion have made butterfly watching a fairly popular hobby among nature lovers. Regina Oon had the opportunity to immerse herself into the world of butterflies during a study trip in Vietnam recently.
	Breeden locks up another Olympic spot in butterfly (The Post-Standard) Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:33:40 GMT OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Elaine Breeden has won the 200-meter butterfly at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials with a time of 2 minutes, 6.75 seconds. Breeden's performance Thursday night followed her second-place showing in the 100 fly, which also should be good enough for a spot in Beijing.
	National Guard offers tours of rare butterfly colony (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:52:53 GMT HARRISBURG - Starting tomorrow, the Pennsylvania National Guard is offering free guided tours of a rare butterfly colony at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County.
	Phelps takes 200 butterfly (Philly.com) Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:24:27 GMT OMAHA, Neb. - Michael Phelps is halfway home to setting his program for the Beijing Olympics, having won the 200-meter butterfly in the U.S. swimming trials.