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Flight of the butterfly
I hiked up a mountain last Friday. It was a small mountain…but still a first for me.
I followed our guides through dense forest, over loose rock and up steep cliffs. The guides made it look easy, keeping a steady pace the whole way. Sweating and short of breath, I quickly destroyed any illusion that I’m even remotely in shape.
(c) Paul Bettings/WWF-Canada
When we finally reached the summit at 3,700 metres, we zigzagged back down through the trees until we found it: a Monarch colony.
I looked up at the majestic trees in awe; their branches bent from the weight of the hibernating butterflies. The air was crisp and clouds covered the sun. Thousands and thousands just hung there together, almost completely still, except for the occasional flutter. Their tranquility was mesmerizing.
These are the first arrivals to the mountains on Michoacán in central Mexico. They are only a quarter of the total number that will winter here. One of my guides is Eduardo Rendón-Salinas, the head of WWF’s monarch program and one of the foremost experts on these incredible insects. He says they start arriving punctually at the very end of October and beginning of November, and they will stay here until mid-February.
According to some local legends, the Monarchs (or Monarica in Spanish) are the souls of the dead, returning to visit their families. This is because they arrive with Day of the Dead celebrations on November 1 and 2.
These delicate looking creatures remain a mystery. Flying anywhere from the east of the Rockies to the West of the Great Lakes, they travel up to 4,000 kilometres to pretty much this exact spot, at this exact time, year after year. No one knows why or how they find these mountains every year. Their phenomenal migration continues to leave scientists in wonder.
Eduardo has been working with Monarchs since 1993. His passion for these butterflies is contagious. The way they connect people to nature is what Eduardo finds the most fascinating. And, for me, standing in this forest, soaking in their collective tranquility, strength and beauty, I understand exactly what he means.
Find out more about what you can do to help Monarch butterfly conservation efforts by clicking here.
7 Responses to Flight of the butterfly
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I adore Mexico (yo soy Mexicana en mi corazon) and it’s on my bucket list to get to Michoacán to see the mariposas monarcas and write about it.
Long live milkweed!
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In Toronto’s downtown St. Lawrence Neighbourhood, guerilla gardeners keep trying to create butterfly gardens with milkweeds and other plants Monarchs particularly like. However, professional gardeners keep cutting them out because they are officially a noxious weed in Ontario. A few years ago I watched a Monarch in the middle of a street, for more than five minutes. When it flew off I went to see what was there — nothing special, so I suspect it was after some mineral in the blacktop (like the saltlicks farmers put out for livestock).
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I also live in Canada, near Ottawa. I have not seen a Monarch for the past three years. Like the previous post, what is happening to them. Is it the milkweed, or something else? I really miss their beautiful winged dance around my place.
Please tell me they are not making it this far north due to our polution, or the strange weather patterns during the last few years. -
I have seen them many times before in Michoacan, my home town. They are beautiful. Oh by the way it is Monarca – “Mariposa Monarca” – (not Monarica) in Spanish
Nice pictures! -
I haven’t seen any monarch butterflies here (in Saskatchewan) for the past couple of years (2010, 2011). I have seen them in the past. Are their numbers down right now for some reason?
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Very Cool pictures
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At WWF-Canada, we're passionate about climate, water and people. Follow us for the latest from Panda HQ.
You tell us that it is the flight of the Monarch butterfly. You tell us that it is from Canada to Michoacan in Mexico but you do not PROVIDE A MAP.
It seems to be the eternal fault of geographic magazines that they do not provide maps. Unfortunately most people cannot read maps but many of us can and want to.
Send me a map showing where the flight goes and I will donate.
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