February 5 Western Monarch Day

For Western Monarch Day, the yearly migratory return of the Western Monarch butterfly to the central Californian coast. The Western Monarch has a lovely, unique pattern of amber and black on its wings, creating almost a stained glass window effect. It lives to the west of the Rocky Mountain Range and fly south to California to survive the winter.

Thousands of Western Monarch Butterflies overwinter on the California coast each year. Western Monarch Day is celebrated in California with events centering around Pismo State Beach, where many of the butterflies spend their winter months. Visitors can view the butterflies, learn more about them and help to plant vegetation to help create safe habitats.