Our good friend Mike Quinn, an entomologist in Austin, Texas, who devotedly tracks the Monarch butterfly  migration and other insect activities (especially beetles) succinctly summarized the State of the Union of the Monarch Butterfly Migration this week on KXAN-TV Austin.  The two-minute clip, set partially at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, focused on the impact of the Texas drought and was picked up by the AP, the Weather Channel, and CNN.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvdPrNAZJH4&w=420&h=315]

“It’s like running a transcontinental marathon and then having a baby at the end,” the Texas  Monarch Watch coordinator and former statewide entomologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife tells the reporter.

Well put!

The article was even translated into Spanish:

Sequía en Texas afecta migración de monarcas.

Mike joined our Monarch Butterfly Texas tag team when we toured the drought-stricken Hill Country last month with the legendary Dr. William Brower, snapping professional quality photographs along the way and sharing with the world via social sharing sites.
As a passionate butterfly enthusiast, I often turn to Mike for a scientific perspective which he always generously provides.  Mike also serves as president of the Austin Butterfly Forum where he helps recruit first-class speakers such as world-renown caterpillar expert Dr. David Wagner who then avail themselves to Austin audiences with understanding, knowledge and really fun field trips.

Thanks for all you do for the butterflies, Mike.

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