Taking Flight An Introduction to the World of the Monarch Butterflies

The purpose of this book is to share some fundamental knowledge, based on the available science to date, about eastern North American monarch butterflies in their winter habitat in central Mexico. Its goal is to spread an awareness and understanding of their unique migration, enabled by the longevity of selected Generations.

While this work was in production, the monarch butterfly was red-listed as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the global authority on the natural world. However, in this particular case, it is not so much the species worldwide that is at risk, but rather the North American monarchs and their unique migratory phenomenon. Their hope for survival begins with a wider understanding among humans of what is required to support their migration. The conversational explanations and many eloquent photographs in this publication will hopefully promote greater knowledge and complement visits to the sanctuaries.