Ep 10. The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies

The NOVA season 36 episode 10, titled "The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies," is a documentary that takes viewers on a captivating journey alongside the monarch butterfly. The episode explores the awe-inspiring migration of the monarch butterfly and the scientific efforts to understand this remarkable journey.

The episode begins by introducing viewers to the monarch butterfly and the incredible distances it travels every year. The monarch butterfly is the only butterfly species that migrates to a warmer climate to escape the harsh winter conditions. These butterflies travel up to 3,000 miles from the Great Lakes region to central Mexico every fall, and then make the return trip in the spring.

Viewers are taken along on the migration with the butterflies, and the episode showcases the natural beauty of their journey. The butterflies travel in vast swarms and navigate using the sun and the earth's magnetic field. The episode showcases breathtaking visuals of the butterflies' migration, including their mass gatherings at stopover sites and their arrival at their winter retreat in Mexico.

The episode also explores the scientific research being conducted to understand this incredible migration. Viewers are taken to the University of Kansas, where expert butterfly biologist, Chip Taylor, has been studying the monarch butterfly for over 40 years. Taylor and his team have been tracking the butterflies using tiny radio transmitters, and their research has provided valuable insights into the monarch butterfly's incredible abilities.

The episode also explores the threats facing the monarch butterfly, including habitat loss and climate change. Viewers are introduced to several conservation efforts aimed at protecting the monarch butterfly, including efforts to plant milkweed, the monarch's primary food source, and to create butterfly-friendly habitats.

Overall, "The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies" is a visually stunning and informative documentary that brings viewers on a captivating journey with one of nature's most fascinating creatures. The episode highlights the staggering beauty of the monarch butterfly's migration while also emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts to protect this iconic species.