Eastern Pennsylvania Phenology: Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Friday, March 18, 2011

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Addendum to March 17 sightings. I almost forget to report a sighting from yesterday afternoon at Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Lehigh County, PA. On the sunny south side of the Tannery building, I spotted a Milbert's Trotoiseshell butterfly, the first of the season here. I was unable to get a photo.

There are many periodic events in nature: the budding of leaves and flowers in the spring, the changing color of leaves in the fall, migrations, insects hatching, etc. There are also physical changes that we pay attention to such as the first and last frosts, and the thawing of the ice on lakes and ponds. Monitoring these seasonal signs is known as phenology. The timing of these events in nature is extremely sensitive to changes in the environment. Thus, collecting data on the timing of phenology events over many years can give us important clues about what might be changing in our world. This blog will record seasonal changes being observed in eastern Pennsylvania. My hope is to have others in the region contribute by commenting on what they are observing in their backyards or what they notice while being outdoors -- hiking, birding, biking, or whatever. I look forward to your comments about what is changing in your "neck of the woods".

Pages

Friday, March 18, 2011

Milbert's Tortoiseshell