Migration without borders: 50 years of tracking monarch butterflies

Monarch butterflies with tags on a goldenrod plant; photo from 1980s.

Monarch butterflies with Urquhart tags nectaring on a goldenrod plant at Presqu’ile Provincial Park near Brighton, Ontario, circa-1980s. Courtesy of Donald Davis / Will Wright

Fri, 08/07/2026

Lori Walsh, South Dakota Public Radio

This interview on South Dakota Public Radio covers the history of the process researchers followed to learn about the North American monarch butterfly migration. The article includes information about the role of Monarch Watch.

Fifty years ago this August, the cover of National Geographic magazine was saturated in orange and black butterflies. The headline read: “Discovered: Monarch’s Mexican Haven.”

Scientists had proved that butterflies who weigh no more than paper clips were migrating as far as three thousand miles. But “discovery” is a complex concept. And so is “protection” when a creature migrates across three different nations.

Augustana professor Will Wright, Ph.D., has written a book about large landscape conservation. It’s called “Borders of Biodiversity.” He spoke with SDPB’s Lori Walsh.

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