On The Edge

On The Edge

Missed it by –that much! (Just missed the deadline. Oh well.)
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This was inspired by AUGUST'S ART CHALLENGE, hosted by SharpenedEdge.

This month's art challenge is "Endangered Animal Species". Any medium is allowed.

An interesting theme.

And, thanks to all the Stock Artists.

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There is some debate about whether Monarch Butterflies should be considered an Endangered Species.

But, there used to be dozens in our neighbourhood every year; but, for the last few years, there haven’t been any.

I thought there was one this year; but, it turned out to be a Viceroy.

In the case of Endangered Species, wouldn’t caution be better, rather than waiting for another population to collapse, possibly never recover?

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Re: Monarch Butterflies, Status as Endangered Species:

-“…the loss of millions of butterflies is definitely being felt here in North America. Populations of the iconic and beloved monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus plexippus) have dropped an astonishing 96.5 percent over the past few decades…”

- Monarch Butterflies, Scientific America, January 5^th, 2015, Extinction Countdown

-“Threatened animals like elephants, porpoises and lions grab all the headlines, but what’s happening to monarch butterflies is nothing short of a massacre.

-“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service summed it up in just one grim statistic on Monday: Since 1990, about 970 million have vanished.

“It happened as farmers and homeowners sprayed herbicides on milkweed plants, which serve as the butterflies’ nursery, food source and home.

“In an attempt to counter two decades of destruction, the Fish and Wildlife Servicelaunched a partnership with two private conservation groups, the National Wildlife Federation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, to basically grow milkweed like crazy in the hopes of saving the monarchs…”

-The monarch massacre,  The Washington Post, Darryl Fears, February 9, 2015

* More Evidence that Monarch Butterflies Should be Listed as Threatened

WWF.CA: Monarch Butterfly Overview

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Stock Resources:

Monarch Butterfly Stock, by Cassy-Blue

Monarch on Milkweed, by CRGPhotography

Monarch Butterfly Stock 13, by chamberstock

Milkweed Monster Pods 2 of 2, by bane-goes-moo

Desert Field 002, by Mourge-stawk

Fennec Stock 13, by Malleni-Stock

Grand Canyon Stock 1, by GloomWriter

Grand Canyon Stock 5, by GloomWriter

Moon, by TinaLouiseUk

Memo:

There are so many absolutely breathtaking photos of places on this planet, on Deviant Art, it would be a shame to think there wasn’t room on Earth for few butterflies.

Listening to:

Coldplay - Paradise (Official Video)

They're right, of course, it could be a paradise, if everyone remembered you can't drink oil, or eat money.

And, that’s about all there is to say about that.

-Cat…


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