A PBS NOVA Presentation on Butterflies

[Cirsium]

A NOVA presentation "The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies" will air on PBS on Tuesday, January 27th.

Orange-and-black wings fill the sky as NOVA charts one of nature's most remarkable phenomena: the epic migration of monarch butterflies across North America. NOVA's filmmakers followed monarchs on the wing throughout their extraordinary odyssey. To capture a butterfly's point of view, camera operators used a helicopter, ultralight, and hot-air balloon for aerial views along the butterflies' transcontinental route.

Shedding light on this natural wonder are some of the world's leading monarch researchers, including Lincoln Brower of Sweet Briar College, independent biologist Bill Calvert, and Orley "Chip" Taylor of the University of Kansas.

Putting the monarch phenomenon into perspective, Taylor says, "You've got a butterfly that's originating in Toronto, or it's originating in Detroit, Michigan, or it's coming down from St. Paul or maybe even Winnipeg, and it's moving south. Somehow it finds its way to Mexico. Could you do that?"

You can read the rest of the story here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/butterflies/about.html

In the "Director's Story: Chasing Butterflies" you can read about director and cinematographer Nick de Pencier's drive and motivation to make this film.

Q: Do you have memories of watching monarchs in your backyard as a kid?

de Pencier: Yes, exactly. As a kid, you see this butterfly just in your own backyard, and you know that it flies away, but you don't know where it goes. Making the documentary, I met lots of people who have equivalent local stories. By following the monarchs, I was able to get a panoramic view of this incredible Herculean journey and how we are all connected to it.

Q: Did you actually take the journey of the monarchs yourself?

de Pencier: I did. After the shooting the first year, which we did with a big crew, we realized that we didn't have the whole story. So then I went out—just me and a camera in an RV—and I drove through all the states, consecutively, right down to Mexico and camped in the mountains.

The rest of the interview:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/butterflies/director.html

I am not going to miss this one!

[TheLorax]

They don't show what time it's on. That's one I'd watch too.

[Sage]

Thanks for posting this. I'll make sure to see it! We have a Butterfly Conservatory nearby and it's one of my favorite places.

[Cirsium]

You can use this link to check the time for your area:
http://www.pbs.org/tvschedules/

NOVA usually airs at 7 pm in my area.

[TheLorax]

That's nice. We can plug in our zip codes as we get a little closer to the date and pick our station and we'll have the time.

[LadySapphire22]

Very interesting, thanks for the link on the times. I'd like to watch that myself.

[winterhavenwildflowers]

Hi all,

The PBS special airs at 8 p.m. ET. A preview is available on the Website http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/butterflies/ and it appears the entire show will be available on the site after it airs on TV.
If anyone becomes inspired to support monarch habitat in North America, I have milkweed seeds as well as seeds and plants that supply nectar.

To learn more about the summer habitat needs for the monarch, visit www.monarchwatch.org.
I raise monarchs all summer and tag and release them in September in time for the migration.

Viva la monarca!

Reni Winter

[NEWisc]

It's tomorrow night!

[biigblueyes]

I'll have to try to remember that one.

[biigblueyes]

It was very well done. Hubby kept saying "that's just incredible" so much I was having trouble hearing the narrator.



I'd say we both enjoyed it.

Did anyone catch what type of tree they roost on in Mexico?