Last weekend, the folks at MPG ranch released some of their butterflies into the wild while playing a recording of music composed during last year’s bicycle trip. Today, we got to release four butterflies from their enclosures and perform in person as they flew off! This piece has a loose melody and a lot of room for improvisation (in case the butterflies linger for a while). Some left right away, while others took their time.
In spite of the dismal butterfly counts at their overwintering sites in central California, this year actually saw an uptick in monarch sightings in this part of Montana. It’s hard to say whether this is because of an increase in monitoring, or whether the migratory patterns and overwintering sites are changing. However, some biologists are cautiously optimistic that the butterflies’ resilience combined with human conservation efforts will lead to a comeback!
—Caracol (guitar, whistle) + Girasol (guitar)
