Catch the monarch on its migratory path
— -- The fall migration of monarch butterflies is nothing short of navigational wizardry. In September and October, these delicate orange-and-black beauties flit 3,000 or so miles — the longest migration of any insect — from parts of the USA and Canada to overwintering grounds in central Mexico. And as they make their way south, they're drawing growing numbers of admirers to butterfly festivals from Florida to Kansas to Texas.
Some of these events are focused on scientific tagging of the monarchs to chart the timing and pace of their movement; others stress education, and still others use the migration as an excuse to throw a party. Whatever the emphasis, their popularity is taking flight.
At the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in the Florida Panhandle, for instance, about 4,000 visitors are expected to attend this year's festival in October.
"The monarchs cover the bushes like an orange carpet," says park ranger Robin Will. "You can stand next to them and they're feeding and they're totally preoccupied. They don't care that you're there. I think that's why people are so captivated by them."
Organizers in Mission, Texas, also anticipate a good turnout for the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Texas Butterfly Festival Oct. 16-19, given the record 300 species, including monarchs, that participants spotted during last year's event. The festival features four day-long trips to various butterfly-rich habitats in the area. While some participants are seasoned enthusiasts, this year's offerings include an introductory tour for novices.
In Gainesville, the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida doubled its attendance when it added its Butterfly Rainforest, a 6,400-square-foot outdoor screened enclosure that is home to up to 2,000 butterflies from eight countries. It launched the October ButterflyFest three years ago, which spotlights the university's McGuire Center for Lepidoptera, the world's largest butterfly and moth research facility.
The lowdown on some upcoming butterfly happenings:
• The 22,000-acre Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Stafford, Kan., catches Monarch Mania on Saturday. Lectures and children's activities culminate in netting monarchs for tagging. 620-486-2393; quivira.fws.gov.
•Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in Marion, Ill., will distribute butterfly nets for its Butterfly Roundup on Saturday. Participants are expected to bag and tag 500 of the insects in the facility's clover fields. 618-997-3344; fws.gov/midwest/CrabOrchard.
• Near Tucson, the eighth annual Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Butterfly Festival & Plant Sale is Sept. 27-28 with activities for children, guided butterfly walks and gardening tips. Already 40 species of the insect have been spotted in what is shaping up to be a very good year for butterflies, a spokesman says. 520-883-2702; desertmuseum.org.
•Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge 30 miles northwest of Austin will erect a butterfly tent Oct. 11-12 in which visitors can watch the creatures at leisure and learn to distinguish various species. Monarch tagging events andbutterfly walks also are scheduled. 512-339-9432; southwest.fws.gov/refuges/texas/balcones.
• The Texas Butterfly Festival in Mission Oct. 16-19 will be based in the south Texas town's butterfly park (free admission) with four guided day trips (registration required) to area butterfly habitats. 956-585-2727; texasbutterfly.com.
•Musical acts, behind-the-scenes tours and photography workshops are among events at ButterflyFest Oct. 18-19 at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. 352-846-2000; flmnh.ufl.edu.
• St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge stages its 20th annual Monarch Butterfly Festival Oct. 25 at the 70,000-acre sanctuary in St. Marks. Fla. Events range from flighty (the opportunity to dress up like a butterfly) to serious (lectures on native plants that attract pollinators). 850-925-6121; fws.gov/saintmarks.