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Freeman J. Dyson, in Infinite In All Directions, published by Harper Collins, writes, “The world of biology is full of miracles, but nothing I have seen is as miraculous as the metamorphosis of the monarch caterpillar. Its brain is a speck of neural tissue. Yet with this microscopic clump of nerve cells, it knows how to manage new legs and wings, to walk, to fly, to find its way to Mexico. How are behaviour patterns programmed into the genes of the caterpillar and then translated into the neural pathways of the butterfly? These are mysteries that biologists are far from understanding. The monarch is proof that nature’s imagination is richer than our own.”
If the migration hasn’t yet begun, it soon will.. Our changing climate may have something to do with the butterfly still visiting our flower gardens this late in the season. I’ve heard it say that this will be a warmer than average fall, and so these creatures may be seen floating by for yet another few weeks. That said, however, the time will come when they will need to be on their way. It’s not their nature to remain behind.
On September 7th of last year I was driving up the DVP going home from a meeting at work, when I saw a lone monarch butterfly flying gracefully above the stop-and-go traffic. I didn’t think it unusual, even though I’ve never witnessed them over this route before. Then I saw another…and another. I counted 37 of them over the course of a few kilometers. I wondered how many more had flown by behind me. I thought I had witnessed the beginning of their annual migration south. I probably did, but I received an e-mail from a listener just the other day that suggested to me that the beginning of the migration I witnessed may be due to a gentle nudge by us.
I’d like to thank Stephanie for sending me a wonderful e-mail recounting her recent experience at the butterfly conservatory at Blue Willow Garden in Baldwin. It’s not as complex as the one we’ve all heard about in Niagara Falls, but it is still a place for quiet contemplation of these most delicate and beautiful of nature’s creatures. She was fortunate enough to have received a private tour from the resident butterfly expert, and had a chance to escape, however briefly, our stressed, fast-paced world. She told me in her e-mail that she enjoyed the setting amid beautful, fragrant flowers and relaxing music that no doubt provided the perfect backdrop to this sanctuary.
She also told me that every September from the second weekend through to the last, there is a release of butterflies. I would imagine that this is in order that they might be inspired to begin their annual migration. This Sunday there will be another release of 300 butterflies between 1 and 3pm. It might make for a wonderful break from the city to take part in the release.
What I witnessed on September 7th of last year [2006] may have been one of these releases. Since they congregate in such huge numbers in the forests of one specific area in Mexico, it doesn’t surprise me that they might be social creatures, and relieved not to have to make the journey alone.
Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing your weekday adventure with all the rest of us, and inspiring tonight’s radio show.
I hope my listeners will tune in for my show tonight, since I will be expanding upon this theme with another line of thinking about a human migration.
One final note…
She writes that you can pay to have a tag added to one butterfly and track its progress to Mexico over the internet. This is one of those times that I am in awe of technology.
Not all of them will make the journey south to its ultimate conclusion. Some may veer off their path in search of a flower that smells particularly sweet and inviting, and decide that it is as good a place as any to spend what little time it has left. A yellow pansy or a purple cone flower, perhaps.
The poet Rabindranath Tagore reminds us of something that we should never forget in our own lives, during our journey…
“The butterfly counts not months but moments and has time enough.”
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Don Jackson
Hello Don: At first I was disappointed that you were blogging but now that I’ve read a few I say ‘keep up the good work’. I frequently catch your program and am upset when I realise that it is Saturday. Usually an avid TV watcher in the evening I’ll now close the TV so that I can listen to you. I like your choice of music and the way you relate the choices to your readings. Nice to put a face to the voice. Sincerely, Anne. p.s. Glad the criket lived to sing another day.
- Anne Carr