Each year, thousands of vibrant orange and black monarch butterflies flock to Pismo Beach, seeking shelter from the freezing northern winters. From late October to February, the butterflies cluster on the limbs of eucalyptus trees at Pismo State Beach. The grove is easily accessible, located on State Highway 1 at the southern end of Pismo Beach, adjoining the town of Grover Beach.
Spectators come from all over the Central Coast and throughout the state to view the monarchs. The Pismo Beach colony is one of the largest in the nation, hosting an average of 25,000 butterflies over the last five years. Visitors are greeted by knowledgeable volunteer docents offering daily talks and information. During the season, the docent trailer opens at 10 am and closes at 4 pm daily. Daily talks happen at 11 am and 2 pm, weather permitting. For more information or directions, call the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce at 800-443-7778.
Be sure to visit ClassicCalifornia.com, the Pismo Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau's web site for more information about Pismo Beach itself and other local attractions.
Monarch Migration
While in the grove, the butterflies form dense clusters with each one hanging with its wings down over the one below it to form a shingle effect. This provides shelter from the rain and warmth for the group. The weight of the cluster help keeps it from whipping in the wind and dislodging the butterflies.
The monarchs that visit Pismo Beach are a special variety, having a life span of six months as opposed to that of common monarchs, who live only six weeks. This can be attributed to a unique fat-storing system. However, even with an extended life span, the butterflies that leave in March will never return.
Scientists do not know why the monarchs consistently return to some wintering sites. In North America, those sites range from the Central and Southern California Coast to Mexico. Some scientists speculate that the insects are equipped with genetic homing systems that lead them from their summer sites in the Sierras, Florida, Canada and the Great Lakes Region in North America back to their winter locations.
On the Central Coast, Monarchs winter in Pismo Beach, Pacific Grove and Morro Bay. The Natural History Museum in Morro Bay is an excellent resource for more information about Monarchs.
Do Butterflies Taste Flowers with Their Feet?
Monarchs have sensory organs on their feet and heads that help them identify different plants. It is uncertain whether insects “taste” as we are able to do.
Monarchs live everywhere milkweed grows. There are a few monarchs high in the mountains in the Rocky Mountain range because there is not much milkweed growing there, and it is cooler than is ideal for monarchs. In northern Canada, the climate is too cool for milkweed to grow, so the current northernmost distribution of monarchs is southern Ontario.
Monarch Butterfly Roosts in California
Winter Sites (from north to south):
· Fremont, Ardenwood Historic Farm, in North Woods between railroad tracks and north fence boundary
· Santa Cruz, Natural Bridges State Beach, a site accessible to everyone
· Pacific Grove Monarch Grove Sanctuary, monarch butterfly grove near Monterey
· Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur, through the Environmental Campground to Cooper's Cabin
· Morro Bay State Park, typically around campsite #116
· Pismo Beach, Pismo State Beach, at the south end of the North Beach Campground
· Ventura, Camino Real Park
· Malibu, Point Mugu State Park, Big Sycamore Canyon (an autumn site)
· Long Beach, El Dorado Nature Center
· Encinitas, Monarch Butterfly House at 450 Ocean View Avenue (800) 606-6627
· San Diego, UCSD (La Jolla Shores Dr. at Azul St.)
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