Sunday 27 July 2014

Wounded Monarch butterfly - what do I do with her?

UPDATE: July 28th

Maggie passed over last night, safely ensconced in the Goldfish plant in the kitchen. The rain and winds were terrible, with thunder and lightning. She was blown off a plant outdoors, flung, sodden, to the ground. She'd taken some water.

Maggie's story

I'm so sad. I was out taking photographs of a new bird, Common Yellowthroat, by the mailbox. I saw this butterfly fly into the path of a car. She ended up on the road.
At first I popped her on the petunias in the planter. I tried giving her some of the hummingbird food, but she wasn't interested. Then, thought she might like the Milkweed, but she's likely in no mood to lay eggs. (My first Monarch caterpillar has disappeared, in its place was a spider. I'm not optimistic.)
I put her in the back yard overnight, on the Hops bine, as the wind was picking up and she cannot fly. This morning, she was drinking water from the rainfall on the plant leaves this morning. Her wings are soaking wet.

Now what?

8 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Sorry, I wish I could help. I hope it will be OK? Have a happy Sunday!

Anonymous said...

Just catching up on your posts. Hope this monarch survives. I haven't seen any around yet this year, but my milkweed is behind in blooming.
Ottawa is our favourite place to visit, must get there in August.
Lovely bird sighting of the yellowthroat.
We had thunder and rain overnight and it was cloudy this morning but now the sun is breaking through and it is getting hotter.
Enjoy the weekend.

Hilary said...

Awww poor wee thing. I don't think there really is anything you can do but offer up shelter and food/water.. and let nature take its course.

We had a similar dilemma with a dragonfly a few years back.

http://thesmittenimage.blogspot.ca/search?q=dragonfly

It's wings didn't behave as they should. It probably didn't survive but its last hours were comfier than they could have been.

Roan said...

A wonderful collection of Monarch shots. My favorite butterfly!

Nancy J said...

Hi Jennifer, if her wings are intact, maybe a warm place out of the wind, and she might recover. The ones I have found with damaged wings do not make it, sad, but life can be cruel, even to the Monarch. Thanks for your lovely words, Hugs, Jean.

DeniseinVA said...

Poor butterfly but how worse off would she be without you to take care of her. Bless your loving heart :)

William Kendall said...

A place out of the wind is all I can suggest, and leave the rest to nature.

Kay said...

I sure hope pretty Maggie will be all right. Thank you for taking care of her.