Photo by Greg Hess
Photo by Greg Hess
The Wonder of the Monarch
Written By: Shawndra Miller
Date Published: September 8, 2021
Shawndra Miller
(This piece was originally published in the September issue of Urban Times)
That monarch butterfly winging through your neighborhood has a whole story to tell. It’s a story of habitat loss and endangerment, but also wonder. Weighing less than a gram, this iconic species will take an incredible journey this fall.
Each autumn, monarchs migrate from summer breeding grounds to their winter grounds. The monarchs we see locally are on their way to central Mexico—a distance of up to 3,000 miles!
Summer generations of this butterfly only live two to six weeks as adults, staying local as they flit from bloom to bloom. But the generation that migrates has a much longer lifespan. They can live for up to nine months.
According to Monarch Joint Venture, a nonprofit partnership dedicated to monarch conservation, the migratory generation responds to external cues to start their southward flight. As days shorten, temperatures decline, and milkweed and nectar sources age, it triggers a shift. The monarchs that emerge by mid-August generally stop reproducing and begin to migrate—toward overwintering grounds they have never been to before.
As they fly south toward Mexico, they will stop at sites where nectar is abundant and shelter is available. In central Mexico, the entire population of eastern monarchs will land in a very small area in the mountains. There they amass in oyamel fir trees, where cool temperatures, water, and shelter enable them to survive winter.
This same generation is the one to start back north in March. They venture into Texas and southern states, laying eggs and nectaring as they migrate and breed. Their offspring (first generation) continue the journey northward, recolonizing breeding grounds as they travel through the central latitudes in April and May.
The second and third generations populate the breeding grounds throughout the summer, and the fourth or fifth generation is the one to fly south to central Mexico.
It’s not well understood how the monarchs navigate to an unknown site to overwinter, but it’s believed they primarily use an internal “sun compass.” There’s also data suggesting they have a magnetic compass that helps orient them south towards their overwintering grounds during fall migration.
Population declines stem from habitat loss and pesticide use, as well as climate change, which may force changes in their migratory patterns.
So when you see monarch butterflies flitting through parks, nature preserves and gardens this fall, know that they are on a mysterious (and perilous) long-distance marathon. And if you garden, plan now to increase your support of this and many other species by planting native plants!
Save the date: Be sure to join us on Nov. 7, 2021 at Oliver’s Woods, where we will host a Spirit and Place Festival event dedicated to the monarch butterfly.
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Among her many key duties as Assistant Director, Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel donations for maximum efficiency. When her workday’s done, Stacy loves to spend time with her two young boys—and when not traveling, she’s likely planning the next travel adventure.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Vice Chair
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan’s interest in land conservation centers around a desire to help preserve natural habitats for wildlife and the subsequent benefits it brings to people and the environment.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.
David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Specialist
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
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