Monarch Butterflies

   To see Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) is one of the treats of coming to North America; having been brought up in the UK on a diet of David Attenborough documentaries, the epic multi-generational migration made by this species has been in the back of my mind since my early years.

   Although Monarchs are a familiar sight to people here in Canada, they are still a spectacular creature in their modest way. Unsurprisingly, they are under threat from a range of directions, including loss of their favoured milkweed habitat and damage to their overwintering sites in Mexico.