After spending a warm spring and summer in the northern states and southern Canada, monarch butterflies venture south to California and Mexico for their overwintering period. The monarchs that flutter through Abilene are part of the group headed to Mexico. While waiting for the cool air to arrive, the butterflies will linger in West Texas, resting on trees in the meantime.
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- A monarch butterfly spreads its wings while sitting on a plant in front of Mabee Hall. (Photo by Callie Leverett)
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- A colony of North American monarch butterflies sits together on tree branches. (Photo by Callie Leverett)
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- Monarch butterflies cling to trees as wind shakes the branches. (Photo by Callie Leverett)
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- A small group of monarch butterflies dangles from leaves near Jacob’s Dream. (Photo by Callie Leverett)
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- A monarch butterfly spreads its wings to reveal its bright colors (Photo by Callie Leverett).
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- Sunlight beams through the trees as a colony of monarch butterflies sits on the branches. (Photo by Callie Leverett)
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- Monarch butterflies make a pit stop in Abilene to rest before continuing their migration to escape the cold winter. (Photo by Callie Leverett)
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- Resting, the monarch butterflies sit on tree leaves and branches. (Photo by Callie Leverett)
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- A lone monarch butterfly perches on a small bush by Jacob’s Dream. (Photo by Callie Leverett)
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- A group of monarch butterflies rests before continuing on their long journey to Mexico. (Photo by Callie Leverett)
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- Just landed, a monarch butterfly flaps its wings as it steadies itself on the branch. (Photo by Callie Leverett)
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- The intricate, bright colors of a monarch butterfly’s open wings are on display. (Photo by Callie Leverett)
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- A monarch butterfly sits on the flower of a crape myrtle. (Photo by Callie Leverett)
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- Monarch butterflies circle a chaste tree by the Margaret and Herman Brown Library (Photo by Callie Leverett).
