It was an ordinary day. Reading about the new classification that has been given to the Monarch Butterfly. They have officially been classified as an endangered species. Recently they have begun a migration of millions from as far north as Canada to wintering grounds in the mountains of Mexico, a journey of up to 3,000 miles for many of the beautiful butterflies. They have suffered from habitat depletion in general and the loss of wild milkweed in particular. Populations have shrunk between 22% and 72% over the last decade, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. This year's migration comes after a summer when members of local Facebook groups reported they were seeing fewer monarchs.
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| The beautiful Monarch Butterfly |
The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species numbers 147,517 species including 41,459 that are threatened with extinction. The latest update adds the migratory monarch butterfly, a subspecies of the monarch, to that threatened list. Pesticides and herbicides kill butterflies and milkweed, the host plant that the larvae of the monarch butterfly feed on. Drought related to climate change limits the growth of milkweed and increases the frequency of catastrophic wildfires, and temperature extremes trigger earlier migrations before milkweed is available, while severe weather has killed millions of butterflies. Possible remedies are planting native milkweed, reducing pesticide and protecting the overwintering sites. In order to preserve the rich diversity of nature, we need effective, fairly governed, protected and conserved areas alongside decisive action to tackle climate change and restore ecosystems. In turn, conserving biodiversity supports community by providing essential services such as food, water and sustainable jobs. For years I have loved taking photographs of the beautiful monarch butterfly. It's beautiful orange and black colors with a touch of white on the wings makes the insect a wonder of nature. But, without diligent conservation, it may one day be gone from this earth forever. Perhaps not in my lifetime, but I hate to think that my grandchildren and their children will never get to see the beautiful Monarch. Here's hoping that everyone can help preserve the feeding grounds of the Monarch and it will return to it's majestic glory. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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