Read on to discover how you can help!
Did you know that a group of butterflies is called a “kaleidoscope”? Isn’t that pretty. See kaleidoscopes firsthand this season as Monarch butterflies pass through Texas for their spring migration.
This spring monarchs will be on the first leg of a long northbound journey from Mexico as a part of their bi-annual tradition. It’s an arduous expedition over thousands of miles – one that has been made all the more difficult with a waning food supply and increased urbanization.
The best way to help their journey, according to Erin Mill, former director of HMNS’s Cockrell Butterfly Center, is by providing a place for them to lay their eggs. That is, provide a floral shelter – a true Air B&B, if you will, along with milkweed.
“In the spring, plant your milkweed. Have it ready because that’s when they need it,” said Mills.
It’s important to note that the center also requested that the public refrain from “rescuing” the monarchs which may deceptively appear to be frayed from the voyage.
“The best thing for the species to help get stronger is to give them the habitat and let nature do it’s thing,” said Mills.
The Center for Biological Diversity writes that the population of monarch butterflies has dwindled in the past years, with only 29,000 individual butterflies remaining.
So do your part, Austin, have your flower beds and milkweed ready to go for the monarchs!
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