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The Monarch Butterfly Migration: Its Rise and Fall Hardcover – August 20, 2024
by
Monika Maeckle
(Author)
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Each fall, millions of monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico. Their incredible journey—nearly 3,000 miles long—takes them through Oklahoma, Texas, and other US states, where butterfly devotees eagerly await their arrival. The monarch migration is a brilliant demonstration of nature’s ingenuity, but the delicate creatures face many perils, and the number of migrating monarchs is declining sharply. This compelling book weaves natural history, science, and personal experience to explore the rise and fall of one of nature’s most spectacular phenomena.
While monarch butterflies have been migrating for centuries, they seized public attention in 1976 when a National Geographic magazine cover story featured the “discovery” of their roosting sites in Mexico. The article rocked the world of lepidoptery, solved a scientific mystery, and opened the door to human meddling. The new revelations put a spotlight on the insects, and inspired the creation of butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico as well as myriad efforts to protect them. Almost 40 years later, many believe that monarch butterflies are in danger of extinction. How real is that danger?
Journalist and butterfly advocate Monika Maeckle addresses this question and more as she delves into the rich history and current plight of the monarch butterfly. Through meticulous reporting, Maeckle offers unique insights on the butterflies as well as a nuanced portrait of the shifting and sometimes contentious community of scientists, enthusiasts, and “flutterati” who have emerged to support the monarchs’ cause.
A highly engaging book, The Monarch Butterfly Migration also focuses a wider lens on the effects of climate change and the tensions between advocacy and scientific accuracy. In addition to calling for environmental sustainability, this book reminds each of us to notice—and never take for granted—the natural wonders in our own backyards.
While monarch butterflies have been migrating for centuries, they seized public attention in 1976 when a National Geographic magazine cover story featured the “discovery” of their roosting sites in Mexico. The article rocked the world of lepidoptery, solved a scientific mystery, and opened the door to human meddling. The new revelations put a spotlight on the insects, and inspired the creation of butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico as well as myriad efforts to protect them. Almost 40 years later, many believe that monarch butterflies are in danger of extinction. How real is that danger?
Journalist and butterfly advocate Monika Maeckle addresses this question and more as she delves into the rich history and current plight of the monarch butterfly. Through meticulous reporting, Maeckle offers unique insights on the butterflies as well as a nuanced portrait of the shifting and sometimes contentious community of scientists, enthusiasts, and “flutterati” who have emerged to support the monarchs’ cause.
A highly engaging book, The Monarch Butterfly Migration also focuses a wider lens on the effects of climate change and the tensions between advocacy and scientific accuracy. In addition to calling for environmental sustainability, this book reminds each of us to notice—and never take for granted—the natural wonders in our own backyards.
- Print length240 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherUniversity of Oklahoma Press
- Publication dateAugust 20, 2024
- Dimensions6 x 0.75 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100806194561
- ISBN-13978-0806194561
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
“A wonderful and important story—part memoir, part murder mystery, and full of the magnificent biology of nature’s monarch. Monika Maeckle deciphers complex scientific and social issues in an accessible, journalistic style that will be widely appreciated.”—Anurag Agrawal, author of Monarchs and Milkweed: A Migrating Butterfly, a Poisonous Plant, and Their Remarkable Story of Coevolution
“A soaring triumph. Maeckle’s crisp prose, clear-eyed perspective, and forthright passion weave a powerful story about the relationships between humans and monarchs, with wide-reaching implications for all of us. I picked up this book and couldn’t put it down.”—Juli Berwald, author of Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs
“Maeckle is not afraid to take on the many disputed hot topics that surround this beloved butterfly including captive rearing, growing tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), butterfly farming, as well as shipping and releasing monarchs for wedding and other events. In true journalistic fashion, she provides both sides of the arguments and points out that even scientists do not agree on these topics, leaving readers to paint their own opinions. You’ll have to read the book and decide.”—Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust
“Butterfly advocate Monika Maeckle (Texas Butterfly Ranch) describes how life has been entangled with Monarchs and their fascinating migration. She starts by recounting her early encounter with roosting monarchs on the pecan tree branches of her family’s ranch in the hill country of Texas. She explains how Catalina Aguado Brugger found, with her husband, an overwintering site in Mexico while volunteering for the Monarch researcher Fred Urquhart, and how that finding encouraged Lincoln Brower, another monarch researcher, and the beginning of a now-famous war of egos. She tells us about the beginnings of the tagging programs led by citizen scientists and efforts to preserve monarchs. She goes on to discuss topics such as captive rearing, milkweed planting, butterfly farming, and even releasing monarchs at weddings. All are controversial with promoters and detractors. Drug production and cartels, as well as the growing industry of avocado farming, are a threat to roosting sites. Climate change and human activity are affecting migration itself. While Maeckle is convinced that monarchs are adapting to many environmental and man-made changes and that their migration is fading, we still need to engage in environmental sustainability.”—CHOICE Magazine
“Maeckle’s book is compelling not only because of the lessons to be learned about the glorious Monarch, but because she peppers each chapter with her own personal experiences researching and writing the material. She creatively takes readers on her exploration and clearly brings to light the significant role of the Monarch to the ecosystem. The Monarch Butterfly Migration is smart and entertaining."—Cowgirl Magazine
“A soaring triumph. Maeckle’s crisp prose, clear-eyed perspective, and forthright passion weave a powerful story about the relationships between humans and monarchs, with wide-reaching implications for all of us. I picked up this book and couldn’t put it down.”—Juli Berwald, author of Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs
“Maeckle is not afraid to take on the many disputed hot topics that surround this beloved butterfly including captive rearing, growing tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), butterfly farming, as well as shipping and releasing monarchs for wedding and other events. In true journalistic fashion, she provides both sides of the arguments and points out that even scientists do not agree on these topics, leaving readers to paint their own opinions. You’ll have to read the book and decide.”—Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust
“Butterfly advocate Monika Maeckle (Texas Butterfly Ranch) describes how life has been entangled with Monarchs and their fascinating migration. She starts by recounting her early encounter with roosting monarchs on the pecan tree branches of her family’s ranch in the hill country of Texas. She explains how Catalina Aguado Brugger found, with her husband, an overwintering site in Mexico while volunteering for the Monarch researcher Fred Urquhart, and how that finding encouraged Lincoln Brower, another monarch researcher, and the beginning of a now-famous war of egos. She tells us about the beginnings of the tagging programs led by citizen scientists and efforts to preserve monarchs. She goes on to discuss topics such as captive rearing, milkweed planting, butterfly farming, and even releasing monarchs at weddings. All are controversial with promoters and detractors. Drug production and cartels, as well as the growing industry of avocado farming, are a threat to roosting sites. Climate change and human activity are affecting migration itself. While Maeckle is convinced that monarchs are adapting to many environmental and man-made changes and that their migration is fading, we still need to engage in environmental sustainability.”—CHOICE Magazine
“Maeckle’s book is compelling not only because of the lessons to be learned about the glorious Monarch, but because she peppers each chapter with her own personal experiences researching and writing the material. She creatively takes readers on her exploration and clearly brings to light the significant role of the Monarch to the ecosystem. The Monarch Butterfly Migration is smart and entertaining."—Cowgirl Magazine
About the Author
Monika Maeckle is the founder of the Texas Butterfly Ranch and the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival. The author of Plants with Purpose: Multitasking Plants That Thrive in Warm Climates, she lives in San Antonio, Texas, and has tagged more than 10,000 butterflies.
Product details
- Publisher : University of Oklahoma Press
- Publication date : August 20, 2024
- Language : English
- Print length : 240 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0806194561
- ISBN-13 : 978-0806194561
- Item Weight : 1.1 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.75 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #243,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #43 in Endangered Species (Books)
- #57 in Biology of Butterflies
- #207 in Natural History (Books)
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