Monarch Butterfly Photo Expedition

Monarch butterflies, vital pollinators supporting food production and more, make a 3,000-mile annual migration from the U.S. to Mexico. A vulnerable species, their journey is at risk due to habitat loss. Local communities and WWF are protecting their winter forests. Now, we can help preserve monarch habitats in the U.S.

Each winter, millions of monarch butterflies migrate to the fir forests of Mexico's Central Highlands—watch this visual preview to see what it's like to walk among them, take photos, and listen to the air hum with the vibration of their wings!

Find out how to take amazing pictures of the monarch butterfly migration in Mexico with nature photo expert Court Whelan. Get expert tips and techniques to enhance your photos of these butterflies!

Watch thousands of monarch butterflies gathering in and flying around Mexico's alpine fir forest.

Grab your camera and get ready for one of nature’s most spellbinding spectacles: the monarch butterfly migration. Photo Expedition Leader Eric Ramirez shares expert advice on how to photograph these brilliant endangered creatures as they gather by the millions in Mexico’s Central Highlands each winter. Learn how to anticipate butterfly behavior and navigate shifting light in dense fir forests; get tips for composing images that blend wildlife, landscape and local culture; and find out what equipment Eric recommends.

From majestic mountains to enormous elephants, we often focus on the "big picture" when it comes to nature photography. But to tell the whole story, you also have to look for the beauty in small things. Photo Expedition Leader Laura Geissinger explains how macro photography can give us a deeper understanding of the natural phenomena we encounter, from the petals of an alpine wildflower to the tiny toes of a tree frog in a tropical rainforest. Get her tips for improving your close-up shots of small subjects, and take a peek at the tiny treasures she’s photographed on Nat Hab trips.

Meet Mason Mirabile, a student film director whose short films raise awareness of pressing conservation issues. His new film about the monarch butterfly migration, Monarchs in Motion, has already received multiple awards and is debuting at film festivals around the world. Watch the 13-minute short, followed by a Q&A with Mason and Expedition Leader and videographer Charlie Reinertsen, who contributed footage and an interview for the film. Plus, learn about monarch conservation and how you can help protect these beloved butterflies.