Monarch Butterfly, Zion National Park, UT.
After a day of hiking in Zion National Park, I was just about to place my camera gear back into my backpack when I encountered this Monarch butterfly perched upon a flower. Adult Monarchs typically live only about four to five weeks, but as autumn approaches, a very special generation of butterflies is born. Unlike their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents,-- all of whom had ephemeral lives measured only in weeks -- these migratory butterflies survive seven to eight months in order to embark on the long journey from the USA to the center of Mexico . I was excited to have had the opportunity to photograph this special generation of monarch butterfly. Once they arrive to their final destination in Mexico, they will be welcomed by a well-preserved forest ecosystem which is critical for the survival of the Monarch butterfly wintering. This has been recognized as an endangered biological phenomenon, and the first priority in world butterfly conservation.

monarchbutterflybutterfliesZion National park