Florida Museum of Natural History Jacob hehn

This exhibit on the migration patterns of monarch butterflies interested me because when I was little my parents had a small butterfly garden that would primarily attract monarch butterflies. I was surprised to learn about the great variation in migration patterns among monarchs depending on what part of the continent they were born; eastern monarchs migrate considerably farther south than do western ones. On the other hand, there are some other populations of monarchs in Florida and the Caribbean that do not migrate at all! It was wonderful to learn so much about the butterflies I used to admire as a little kid.
The Museum did a good job of showing us exactly what we are losing as humans try to colonize the entire globe. The bright colors of the butterflies and flowers and the light trickle of the flowing water immersed me in the Rainforest. As a result, I felt like I was truly a part of the Rainforest. By immersing us in nature, the Museum makes us feel that the cost of human expansion is not a far-away, obscure rainforest but rather a personal experience.
The Natural History Museum did a fantastic job of preparing me for the different types of butterflies I would see in the Rainforest. It even taught me about the various adaptations that butterflies have developed over time, including mimicry and false heads. I was able to observe some of these adaptations when I was in the Rainforest, and this helped immerse me in the nature. Just seeing how gorgeous a piece of land could be when humans are not able to touch it helped me appreciate the beauty and frailty of the natural world.

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