On a recent early morning walk around Sloan's Lake, I looked around and noticed that it was just me and the birds. I sat down on a bench and could've watched those geese for hours – their pecks and peeps, endlessly fascinating.
The next thing I knew, the calm turned to commotion, and they all took flight. Where are they headed, I wondered? How do they decide on a destination?
Tonight at 7, "
NOVA" takes us on the incredible migratory journey of the monarch butterfly from Canada to its winter hideout in Mexico.
With a brain that small, it seems like nothing short of a miracle that throngs of butterflies reach the same place each year – arriving by the millions at the same time. I wish my internal compass worked that well!
What was it like to chase butterflies for two months? Check out this
interview with the director. To achieve the best aerial perspective, he followed the monarchs in a hot-air balloon (all in a day's work!).
For the real deal, make your way to the
Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster. Did you know that it's the first stand-alone insect zoo in the country? I hear there are more than 1,000 butterflies to see. I also hear they're not bashful (hint: wear white or bright colors for maximum exposure).
Read up on
monarch conservation here. And, if you're like me and enjoy thinking about your summer garden well ahead of time, check out these tips from Colorado State University on
how to plan a butterfly garden. Or, join one of the many
gardening groups on Facebook.
What's your experience with butterflies? Seems like they're always on the move. Any suggestions, gardening tips, etc. on how to attract them? While I enjoy the freezing temperatures (you can't ski without 'em!), I still dream of summer.
-Elizabeth
