Flight of the Monarchs

Monarch Butterfly migration is in full swing in this part of Kansas. Large orange butterflies with black-bordered wings adorn trees and flowers as they feed and rest before continuing their journey south. A great site for tracking their migration can be found at Monarch Watch: Migration and Tagging. The one insect that received special attention by my teachers in gradeschool was the Monarch. We learned about the stages from caterpillar to adult butterfly and about the remarkable migrations each year from south to north in the spring and then back again in the fall. For several years the University of Kansas has sponsored a conservation effort to prevent the loss of these beautiful creatures from our ecosphere. They warn that "Intense deforestation in Mexico could ruin one of North America's most celebrated natural wonders -- the mysterious 3,000-mile migration of the monarch butterfly." The issue is complex and even more difficult to address since the butterflies do not understand politcal boundaries and cross borders without reserve. Perhaps a concerted effort by leadership of the United States and Mexico that deals with the economic woes of Mexico and the role of U.S. policy in economic development is the best starting point. Seems that guarding the border receives the highest priority by our own leaders, while the extreme poverty and imbalances in Mexico are ignored. Certainly, these other issues take precedence over a healthy environment shared by all North Americans, including Monarchs.