Alberta butterfly lovers aflutter over northern migration of monarchs

EDMONTON – The hearts of butterfly lovers are fluttering over an unprecedented migration north of monarchs all the way to Edmonton and points beyond.

The fragile, orange-and-black wanderers have flitted thousands of kilometres from their wintering grounds in Mexico.

University of Alberta naturalist John Acorn says it’s the biggest movement north of monarchs in recorded history.

There have been dozens of sightings over the last couple of weeks.

Katelyn Windels, who is 12, spotted one fluttering in the grass outside her family’s greenhouse in Lavoy, about 100 kilometres east of Edmonton.

She says it’s amazing to see such a tiny, delicate creature and realize how far it has flown.