On the Move!

Maybe you have seen them too? Orange and black; flitting from flower to flower or gliding on the breeze, the Monarch Butterflies are beginning their annual migration. One of nature’s great mysteries, the Monarch Butterflies that migrate from the eastern U.S. and Canada have never visited their winter destination. They are several generations removed from the butterflies that over-wintered in pine forests located in the mountains of Mexico. Yet somehow they find their way. Chasing monarchs: migrating with the butterflies of passage is about monarch migration and the west-coast populations that over-winter in California.

We may not be doing much traveling this year but animals are. Not only the monarchs, but dragonflies, eels, fish, turtles, birds and mammals are on the move. We can live vicariously through their perilous journeys from the comfort of our own homes, via books and video DVDs.

Bird Migrations are the most well-known and among the longest migrations. The atlas of bird migration: tracing the great journeys of the world's birds, Living on the wind: across the Hemisphere with migratory birds, On the wing : to the edge of the world with the peregrine falcon and Songbird journeys: four seasons in the lives of migratory birds are four books in our collection that will bring this phenomenon to life for you. Eels: an exploration of the world's most mysterious fish, from New Zealand to the Sargasso, On the run: an angler's journey down the striper coast and Salmon: a fish, the Earth, and the history of their common fate explore migration in the watery realms.

Animal migration: remarkable journeys in the wild, Nature's great events : the most amazing events on the planet, and No way home : the decline of the world's great animal migrations are three books that reveal these incredible journeys. The book Great migrations: official companion to the National Geographic channel global television event and the corresponding DVD provides a global look at these epic journeys.

We have more DVDs related to animal migration: Winged migration, Nature's most amazing events, Turtle the incredible journey and the Great Zebra Exodus are films with visually stunning footage. Although they do not solely focus only animal migration, the films:  Wild Ways, The gathering swarms and Seasons have compelling components related to animal migration. While our travel is currently restricted, we can be glad that we do not have to face the perils of seasonal migrations. We hope you enjoy the opportunity to appreciate the daunting challenges faced by the earth’s animals, through these books and movies.