Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Where do butterflies go?


This morning I attended the most unusual thing in Le jardin des Plantes, the large garden located near the Gare d'Austerlitz: a butterflies release! Explanation: a couple of nature preservation associations (Noeconservation and Natureparif teamed up to find out how far butterflies can go, how they adapt to the urban environment, etc. They raised about 100 of them (Pieris Rapae), marked them with little symbols (with solvant free markers) and released them this morning. We (the French) are all invited to report the presence of any of them on the web site of  Noeconservation. Isn't that amazing? See more photos here.

22 comments:

  1. Oh, how lovely! They have lots of plants that butterflies love in my local garden, and I love to hang out near them. Thanks again for sharing—now on to the links.

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  2. That's fascinating. Are you going to be looking all over for marked butterflies now? I wonder what the results will be. The other photos are great too, but I like this one with the guy more interested in the butterflies than in taking his photo.

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  3. ...and butterflies are free to fly, fly away, high away, bye bye...

    ^^Name that tune!^^

    I guess how far they go depends a lot on how old they are when they are released. From what I've read, a typical small garden butterfly lives only about a week or so.

    I'm wondering why a butterfly would leave Le Jardin Des Plantes in the first place. I'm thinking they should have released them in a more concrete environment, to see how far they would go for food.

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  4. Love is like a butterfly, hold it to tight, it'll crush it, hold it too loose, it'll fly away.

    Butterflies are some of my favorite things, they are flowers that fly, drifting along on beautiful wings.

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  5. I'll let you know if I see any of them down here :))

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  6. I just looked at the first link and saw all the butterflies with little squares and circles, etc., on them. I think there will be lots of Parisians who don't know about this program who will be very perplexed about how and why someone could paint a geometric symbol on a butterfly!

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  7. Butterflies: is there a more perfect symbol of love?

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  8. I looked at the link with your other photos first and loved how they individualized the markings for identification. Those butterflies have the most delicate coloring; they're beautiful.
    This makes me very excited for an annual Fall internet event that I look forward to each year. People report sightings of Monarch Butterflies as they make their way back to Mexico where they winter. I think this was begun as a classroom event, but has spread to the general population of we who love butterflies! Info here.

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  9. I agree with E.T. Suzy. Seems a bit ridiculous to release a bunch of butterflies inside their own "urban" paradise. Let 'em spend a day at La Defense and see what happens!

    Suzy - Yellow Brick Road?

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  10. Someone saved my life tonight Eric dear,
    You almost had your hooks in me PDP,
    You nearly had me roped and tied,
    altar bound, hypnotised.
    Sweet freedom whispered in my ear, you're a butterfly and butterflies are free to fly,
    Fly away, high away, bye, bye!


    It's no use Suzy, I'm still hooked!

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  11. Sorry Suzy, can I take back my previous guess? Right artist, wrong song! It's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight". Thanks Drummond!

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  12. Cherchez les papillons huh? lol fascinating but I hope the marking doesn't harm them; the fine dust on their wings is so delicate.

    Ah, Drummond/Elton John what a fab combo.

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  13. Michael, don't mention it - that's the wonder of Google - anyone can be a smarty pants these days!

    Lynn - I presume you mean in a business sense. Do I get half the royalties?

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  14. Like Lynn, I'm fretting over their safety!

    Drummond, LOL! {One of my favourite Elton John songs, too.}

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  15. Eric- I try to blog about things that are both beautiful & interesting. This takes the cake! I hope some butterfly wings flutter by you when you are on your scooter!

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  16. Anne is right : I can guess that an interesting and beautiful subject each time does take the cake... sometimes.
    But... please go on :)))

    Drummond, LOL
    I miss you when you don't show up here ;) I love your humour.

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  17. Madama Butterfly I miss Drummond too. Especially when he's dreaming of getting Elton royalties. lol.

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  18. unusual and beautiful idea.

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