Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.
As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”
I can count the Monarch caterpillars I’ve seen this year on one hand, and one of them was dead.
This is one of the four live ones.
Will these two eggs, seen laid on September 11, get as far as big fat caterpillars about to pupate?
Also that Monday, a pair were mating.
How sad! I saw a Monarch in Claryville NY yesterday. I hope it was laying some good eggs. Thank you for your amazing work Mat! Im just back from a month in Costa Rica where I saw lots of animals in wild and urban spaces from Hummingbirds to giant grasshoppers, howler monkeys, scarlett macaws, leaf cutter ants, humpback whales. I have come to the realization that I am a peaceful Earth Firster. We simply have to get over ourselves and realize we are of this planet – not above it. Until we embrace this – all nationa all peoples all political sides all ideologies – we will continue to destroy the planet and in turn ourselves! Paz amigo!
Backyard and Beyond 
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