Monarch butterflies Feb 5, 2024

Monarch butterflies

Around this time of year, beautiful, flame-coloured monarch butterflies finish their long migration that starts hundreds of kilometres north in October of the previous year. They gracefully descend upon Southern California, gathering in large numbers on eucalyptus trees. The best place to spot these insects is in the city of Goleta, situated in southern Santa Barbara County. Those gathered to see the clumps of butterflies in 30-metre-tall trees might confuse them for clumps of leaves, however, as the sun"s rays gently fall upon the insects, their wings will begin to flutter. Bring your binoculars and take the opportunity to witness these winged wonders huddled together, it"s truly a sight to behold!

© Craig Rademacher/500px/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Feb 5, 2025Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Feb 5, 2026Salt evaporation ponds on the island of Gozo, Malta

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Aug 3, 2024Three Natural Bridges, Wulong National Park, China
Jul 31, 2025Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, United States
Jun 4, 2024Chestnut-headed bee-eaters
Apr 23, 2025Beach chairs on Steinwarder in Heiligenhafen, Germany
Dec 6, 2025Everglades National Park, Florida
Apr 1, 2026Japanese tree frog in a pink morning glory
Aug 7, 2024St. Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer Lights, Michigan, USA
Mar 7, 2026Snowy owl near the Canadian Rockies
Jun 20, 2024Kokino, North Macedonia
May 21, 2024Poço Encantado cave, Brazil
Dec 3, 2024Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Apr 26, 2024Kalaloch Tree of Life, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
Sep 2, 2023Allens hummingbird
Sep 10, 2023Walruses in Svalbard, Norway
Mar 30, 2025Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
Apr 18, 2025Göreme Historical National Park in Cappadocia, Türkiye
May 29, 2025Miravet, Catalonia, Spain
Nov 21, 2024Lion cubs, South Africa
Oct 21, 2025Cap dAntibes, Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur, France
Mar 6, 2026The Wave, Vejle, Denmark
Dec 29, 2023Oud-West neighbourhood, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jan 16, 2026Leopard at Etosha National Park, Namibia
Apr 15, 2026Forgetmenot Pond, Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Nov 29, 2023Schwerin Castle on Lake Schwerin, Germany
Oct 1, 2025Clark Range, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Feb 18, 2025The Great Blue Hole, Belize
Jun 19, 2024Water tower in Cuxhaven, Germany
May 9, 2024Tulips at Emirgan Park in Istanbul, Türkiye
Apr 21, 2026European hedgehog, France
Jan 5, 2026A herd of impalas