Witness a swarm
T’S A LATE-OCTOBER MORNING IN THE HIGHLANDS OF MEXICO’S MICHOACÁN
state. The air is chilly, with a tinge of wood-smoke from the houses in the valley.
You’re lying in the dry grass, looking up at the rangy oyamel firs. The trunks of the
trees, usually brown, are instead a rusty orange. The same is true of the needles,
usually a deep piney green. Suddenly, the trees begin to ripple, as if covered in flames.
A blanket of orange rises, undulating, into the sky. Then it settles towards the ground and
you’re surrounded by millions upon millions of monarch butterflies. Warmed by the morning
sun, they descend to the ground to stay cool during the day.
A single butterfly is stunning, a work of art in miniature. But so many at once is awe-
inspiring in an entirely different way. Such is the power of the swarm. Swarms, flocks or
massive herds of animals – from crab to wildebeest – make for some of the Earth’s best travel
sights. Watching creatures move in sync with each other and with invisible natural forces can
be anything from an endorphin rush, to a great photo opportunity, to a full-on spiritual
experience. Bring your camera and your willingness to be wonderstruck.
Watching a single animal can be amazing enough, but
to see thousands – or even millions – together? That’s
worth crossing the globe for