And, to the delight of the tourists, the butterflies flood the area below the colony where the concession stands are located. The colony has shifted down and to the west. At Sierra Chincua, the colony is now a string of pears spread out on the north side and on the bottom of the Barranca Honda. The Sierra Chincua continues to move down the Barranca Honda. Paradoxically, remaining butterflies in both sanctuaries are sitting in positions where they receive the hottest afternoon sun.
Most pairs break apart just as they strike the ground.
If on a trail,they struggle in the dust. In the early mornings, butterflies pour into the fields to drink. I have noticed that they concentrate on the sunny side of a shaded patch, in a narrow band only 1-1.5 meters wide. I suspect they're drinking dew there, just before it evaporates in the strong tropical sun. March days are brilliant and sunny in Michoacan.