Monarch Butterflies may get protection. Native to North America, once present in every U.S. state except Alaska, the insects with the distinctive and colorful wings are known for their spectacular migration each year from Mexico to Canada and back. Monarch populations have dropped by 90 percent in the last two decades alone. On Monday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it would conduct a one-year status review of the butterfly species to determine whether it warranted Endangered Species Act protection. Monarch populations have dropped from a recorded high of approximately 1 billion butterflies in the mid-1990s to 35 million last winter, the lowest number ever recorded, statistics show. Scientists attribute much of the decline to herbicides used with genetically engineered crops in the Midwest, where most monarchs are born, activists say. Pesticide spraying has wiped out milkweed plants in corn and soybean fields. We can do something about it! Plant milkweed, echinacea, black-eyed Susan, and other life supporting monarch butterfly plants in your garden. Urge your neighbors to do the same. Butterflies Dancing was inspired by Vicki Bonk, who shared her life-long passion for the Monarch Butterfly with youth and elders along the shores of Lake Nokomis, Minnesota. After she spoke we collectively wrote Butterflies Dancing to celebrate this remarkable transformational being through a program called Elders Wisdom, Children Song. (communitycelebration.org) Butterflies Dancing is featured on my recording, Dont Stand Still. (larrylong.org) Butterflies Dancing (Celebrating the Monarch Butterfly) Butterflies dancing Dancing in the sunlight Butterflies dancing Everything’s gonna be alright Looking for milkweed The caterpillar crawling Everything’s gooey Mexico is calling Like jade and bright gold Straight out of nothing Here comes something A beautiful monarch butterfly Butterflies dancing Dancing in the sunlight Butterflies dancing Everything’s gonna be alright Light as a feather Falling from a hummingbird Way above the ocean 4,000 feet high With thirty million Living in fir trees All through the winter To roost in Mexico Butterflies dancing Dancing in the sunlight Butterflies dancing Everything’s gonna be alright Three months later From south of the border On up to Texas On their way to Minnesota Black-eyed Susan Blazing Star and Aster Golden Rod & Echinacea Nectar they love to drink Butterflies dancing Dancing in the sunlight Butterflies dancing Everything’s gonna be alright Now everyone do it Now everybody plant some Milkweed and flowers For the next generation Words & music by Larry Long © Larry Long Publishing 2006 / BMI https://soundcloud/larry-long/butterflies-dancing-by-larry-long
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 16:03:48 +0000
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