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  1. #1
    Learning more with every "click" mjs1973's Avatar
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    Baby Butterflies

    We have some tall plants growing in one of our flowerbeds that we weren't sure what they were. We figured they were sunflowers because we had a bird feeder in the flower bed for a while so we let them grow. There was a monarch butterfly stopping at it a few times and we couldn't figure out why. Once it started to flower, it all clicked. Last year my wife planted some milkweed but it never grew and we just forgot about it. Now it's growing, and so are the monarch caterpillars. I counted 7 total, 5 large ones, and 2 small ones. Hopefully I will have some chrysalises soon.

    This little guy is only about 1/4" long.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Baby Butterflies-_mg_7758.jpg   Baby Butterflies-_mg_7685.jpg  
    Mike

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    "I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."
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  2. #2
    Nature/Wildlife Forum Co-Moderator Loupey's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    Very nice, Mike!

    You should be able to get a lot of good "eating" shots at this stage.
    Please do not edit or repost my images.

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  3. #3
    Learning more with every "click" mjs1973's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    Thanks Loupey. I'm working on them and hope to get some later this week. Spent some time yesterday with the G9 shooting time lapse video of them eating. It was pretty windy though so it's not that great. May have to set something up inside for them where I can get better control of the "environment".
    Mike

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    "I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."
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  4. #4
    Learning more with every "click" mjs1973's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    All 5 of the large caterpillars were still on the plants this morning before work. When I got home I couldn't find any of them on the plants. I did eventually find 2 of them and I brought 1 into the house to watch it transform. Unfortunately it looks like it's going to transform in a spot in my aquarium that isn't going to be very good for photos. I was hoping it would hang on a stick that I put in it, but I guess it thought the top cage was a better spot. Should still be fun to watch.

    Here are a couple more images. One of the large caterpillars was taken yesterday, the small one was taken tonight. There are at least 2, maybe 3 of the small ones still on the plants. I found a couple leaves that look like they may have eggs on them so there could be more to come.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Baby Butterflies-_mg_7853.jpg   Baby Butterflies-_mg_7976.jpg  
    Mike

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    "I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."
    Aldo Leopold

  5. #5
    Learning more with every "click" mjs1973's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    A couple more images to add to the series. One of the young caterpillars with a chrysalis on the milkweed plant. The other image is of a young caterpillar eating it's shed 'skin'. The cuticle is like a shell and it does not grow with the caterpillar. When the caterpillar gets too large, it sheds it's skin and then eats it. The skin is filled with vitamins for the growing caterpillar.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Baby Butterflies-_mg_8024.jpg   Baby Butterflies-_mg_8020.jpg  
    Mike

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    "I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."
    Aldo Leopold

  6. #6
    Nature/Wildlife Forum Co-Moderator Loupey's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    The chrysalis shot is wonderful. It really shows how small the younger one is in addition to the beauty of the chrysalis itself.
    Please do not edit or repost my images.

    See my website HERE.


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  7. #7
    Learning more with every "click" mjs1973's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    Thanks Loupey. That was shot at almost 10:30 at night, after a very long day. I checked on them while letting the dogs out before going to bed and knew that the shot wouldn't be there in the morning so I figured I would give it a try. Wish it had more DOF but I'll take it. Hoping for some more shots this weekend.
    Mike

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    "I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."
    Aldo Leopold

  8. #8
    nature/wildlife co-moderator paulnj's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    Great images! Have you ID'd it yet?
    CAMERA BIRD NERD #1




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  9. #9
    Learning more with every "click" mjs1973's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    Quote Originally Posted by paulnj
    Great images! Have you ID'd it yet?
    Thanks Paul. These are monarchs. We should have butterflies later this week or early next week.
    Mike

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    "I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."
    Aldo Leopold

  10. #10
    nature/wildlife co-moderator paulnj's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    Quote Originally Posted by mjs1973
    Thanks Paul. These are monarchs. We should have butterflies later this week or early next week.
    thought so. I seen a swallowtail emerge today. So cool to see.

    congrats on the featured photo. I heard 2 really cool guys chose it
    CAMERA BIRD NERD #1




    BIRD NERD O'CANON

    "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" - Benjamin Franklin

  11. #11
    Learning more with every "click" mjs1973's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    I have never watched one emerge. Hopefully they decide to come out on the weekend. I would like to document them some more. I took a few more shots tonight, but my HD is full so I need to clear some space before I can download them.

    Thanks for the feature!
    Mike

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    "I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."
    Aldo Leopold

  12. #12
    Snap Happy CaraRose's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    Congrats on your feature, Mike!
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  13. #13
    A picture is a present you give yourself shootme's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    Great series, super sharpness and clarity, wonderful shots congrats on the feature.
    :thumbsup: Shootme...

    Please don't edit and re-post or use my images (not that you'd want to anyway...). without my written permission. Thank you



  14. #14
    Learning more with every "click" mjs1973's Avatar
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    Re: Baby Butterflies

    Thanks Cara and Shootme.

    The chrysalis I had in my aquarium was green last night when I went to bed at 11:00. At 6:00 this morning there was a wet butterfly hanging from it. The one outside was still green this morning so I'm hoping for some shots of it emerging when I get home.
    Mike

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    "I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."
    Aldo Leopold

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