A Moment in Time

Diva with Don & Cousin Ellen @ Shadow Bay Park

Shadow Bay Park, about a mile from our home, is a preserve/sports complex which maintains the genuine character of the wild Florida landscape. Live oaks and pines, various birds, snakes, tortoises and assorted other critters inhabit the 2 square mile park (as well as tennis & basketball courts and a baseball field) - 2 types of trails, paved and primitive wind through, my choice being the primitive as I can walk Diva off-leash and not freak anyone out.

Miss Dog and myself take to the trails daily and while treking through a particularly pristine area of the park, we came upon a group of about 30 or so butterflies which stopped us in our tracks. It was one of those 'moments in time' when you tune out all of the peripheral sights and noises and stand in wonder at the sight before you. I take my camera on these hour long excursions, just in case I come upon a scene such as this. One of these days, we'll share these times with Joanna Mei. A short video follows this post below ......

So I Googled 'Florida Butterflies' and found out this much about the species Zebra Heliconian that I observed:

Males patrol for females, and are also attracted to female chrysalids (cocoons). A male will wait on the cocoon and mate with the female as she is about to emerge. He then deposits on her abdomen a chemical that repels other males. Eggs are laid in groups of 5-15 on leaf buds or leaves of the host plant; caterpillars feed at night on leaves. Adults roost communally in groups of 25-30 individuals. (By the time I got the camera out, many had begun roosting.)