Flying colors

If you’d like to do your own survey of one of nature’s most colorful migrations, check out these monarch overwintering sites accessible to the public:

Ellwood Main: The premier monarch site in Southern California. Near Santa Barbara in the town of Goleta. For more information, check https://www.tpl.org/ellwoodmesa . To help count butterflies at this location, contact monarchsunlimited@yahoo.com.

Pismo State Beach: This colony is along the southern edge of the North Beach campground. Docent-led tours from Thanksgiving through February.

Pacific Grove: Behind the Butterfly Grove Inn in Pacific Grove. Contact Friends of the Monarchs at P.O. Box 51683, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 or (888) PGMonarch for more information.

Natural Bridges State Beach: 2531 W. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. There is a small nature center and guided tours. For information, go to https://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=541.