2023/8/12 - PRAIRIE RIDGE MONARCH & POND HUNT
DIRECTOR'S CUT EXTENDED EDITION

This is the Director's Cut Extended Edition for this album, meaning I have included many photos which don't meet my typical artistic standards because they hold special memories for me. If you are looking for a shorter and higher quality collection, or if you are not a fan of spiders, visit the curated Theatrical Cut at PRAIRIE RIDGE ECOSTATION SUMMER 2023 - SPIDER FREE THEATRICAL RELEASE.

The first part of this adult camp was focused on monarch butterflies; we learned about their life cycle, migration patterns, what plants they like (milkweed!), and how to tell them apart from other butterflies. My favourite fact was how the monarchs born in the north migrate all the way to Mexico without ever having been there before. How do they know??

We went looking for eggs and/or caterpillars in the garden, worrying that it may be too early, but some keen eyed folks spotted a few 1st instar fresh unmolted monarch babies! They already have their iconic black, white, and yellow stripes. Maybe I'll see them again in a week or two?

We then ventured to the pond to see what we could catch. I am an eternal fan of the green tree frogs and was excited to see many wee babies. I found an adult in a folded umbrella, who proceeded to attack us, although we bothered him so I think it was justified. We learned how to catch and hold dragonflies and damselflies, and from the water scooped up dragonfly nymphs, a leech (!), water crawlers, tadpoles, and some other mystery creatures.

Second favourite fact: dragonflies live in the water as nymphs for years as freaky froggy fellows before taking flight and dying in a couple months, and they are already fierce predators and can sometimes eat small fish. Growing up is practically a downgrade. I have never seen an adult dragonfly eat a fish.