Searching for Monarchs in the Sierra Chincua Sanctuary by Elizabeth Howard 1) Why Look Down? We were watching for dead butterflies. Butterflies litter the ground underneath a colony, like confetti after a parade. We watched the ground for colorful wings, in case the butterflies were above us, camouflaged in the trees. When a colony moves, the wings remain behind. Three times we came upon distinct areas where there were thousands of wings, but no butterflies above--silent testimony to the life and activity that was previously there. Because the wings remain on the ground for days and even weeks after the butterflies have gone, they leave a trail that tells the seasonal history of the colony. Scientists studying habitat needs can learn which areas are important to the butterflies by noting this litter of wings. 2) Where Are the Butterflies? Pictures B and E contain the colony of monarchs. You can see single butterflies in Picture D, but not a colony. The colony is over the hill in the direction the people are walking. The butterflies in Picture D had flown away from the colonies. B D E   Search Journey North Copyright 1997-2012 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.