The mystery of the Monarch migration crossed my radar. No science has uncovered how they navigate. Millions of Monarchs, none having previously made the journey, fly over 4000 kilometers from as far away as the Great Lakes in Ontario to the Sierra Madres in central Mexico. They are surviving in spite of their primary food source, the Milkweed being depleted by pesticides.
A friend sent us urgent e-mails of fights within the drug cartels near Morelia close to the Monarch sanctuaries cautioning danger for tourists. My partner and I reasoned that we would be fine traveling as local Mexicans do by bus to the hart of the Sierra Madres. Riding on skinny horses we reached the Cerro Pelon butterfly sanctuary at 10,000 feet.
“Magic” is the only word that comes to mind. Imagine so many butterflies clustered together on a branch of a mature fir tree, that the branch is bent by the weight. Perhaps one thousand butterflies flutter past; land at my feet or on my body for a brief pause. Closing my eyes I could hear the flutter of countless Monarch wings. Our friend Mary had tears in her eyes as did I.
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A friend sent us urgent e-mails of fights within the drug cartels near Morelia close to the Monarch sanctuaries cautioning danger for tourists. My partner and I reasoned that we would be fine traveling as local Mexicans do by bus to the hart of the Sierra Madres. Riding on skinny horses we reached the Cerro Pelon butterfly sanctuary at 10,000 feet.
“Magic” is the only word that comes to mind. Imagine so many butterflies clustered together on a branch of a mature fir tree, that the branch is bent by the weight. Perhaps one thousand butterflies flutter past; land at my feet or on my body for a brief pause. Closing my eyes I could hear the flutter of countless Monarch wings. Our friend Mary had tears in her eyes as did I.
Click on any image for Gallery link and description
