Two other fascinating aspects of the day. First, we saw two baby white-necked jacobin hummingbirds in a nest built onto a heavily sloped (70 degrees at least) leaf. Second, we were impressed with the process used to raise the butterflies at Pierella Gardens. Plants were grown specific to the preferences of particular butterfly species. Once the butterfly eggs were laid, fine mesh nets were put over the plants to protect the growing caterpillars. Once the caterpillars reached sufficient size (the caterpillars of blue morpho butterflies get to be about six inches long and an inch thick) and spin their chrysalis, the chrysalis are moved to a special cabinet. Normally the butterflies are shipped as chrysalis, but right now all of them are emerging as butterflies at Pierella. Once the chrysalis are removed, the netting is also removed and the plants are given a chance to recover.
And the red-eyed tree frog picture got left out yesterday.
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