The Last Butterflies, Nick Haddad
The Last Butterflies, Nick Haddad
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The Last Butterflies
A Scientist's Quest to Save a Rare and Vanishing Creature

Author: Nick Haddad

Narrator: Eric Jason Martin

Unabridged: 7 hr 37 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/25/2019

Categories: Nonfiction, Nature, Animals


Synopsis

Most of us have heard of such popular butterflies as the Monarch or Painted Lady. But what about the Fender's Blue? Or the St. Francis' Satyr? Because of their extreme rarity, these butterflies are not well-known, yet they are remarkable species with important lessons to teach us. The Last Butterflies spotlights the rarest of these creatures—some numbering no more than what can be held in one hand.

Weaving a vivid and personal narrative with ideas from ecology and conservation, Haddad illustrates the race against time to reverse the decline of six butterfly species. Many scientists mistakenly assume we fully understand butterflies' natural histories. Yet, as with the Large Blue in England, we too often know too little and the conservation consequences are dire. Haddad argues that a hands-off approach is not effective and that in many instances, like for the Fender’s Blue and Bay Checkerspot, active and aggressive management is necessary. With deliberate conservation, rare butterflies can coexist with people, inhabit urban fringes, and, in the case of the St. Francis' Satyr, even reside on bomb ranges and military land. Haddad shows how, through protection and restoration efforts, we might face conservation issues for all animals and plants.


About Nick Haddad

Nick Haddad is a professor and senior terrestrial ecologist in the Department of Integrative Biology and the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station at Michigan State University. He lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Keith on August 16, 2019

Here's the text to a radio review I did (first on Michigan Radio on Aug. 8) of this wonderfully informative book (I am not a scientist, although I like to think I try to pay attention): The Last Butterflies: A Scientist’s Quest to Save a Rare and Vanishing Creature By Nick Haddad Princeton University P......more

Goodreads review by Amanda on November 20, 2019

This book has convinced me that one of the most impactful choices you can make in regards to environmental improvement is to learn how to identify and remove the invasive species that grow where you live.......more

Goodreads review by Megan on April 21, 2021

I am so glad books like this exist. Not really meant for non-science readers, but very interesting all the same. It completely boggles my mind how much we still don’t know about the natural history of most of the creatures on earth. It is also exciting, as there are so many discoveries ahead. He pos......more

Goodreads review by Cliff on August 21, 2023

Excellent book. Well written and engaging. Rare butterflies are a fascinating topic and this book really covered the plight of these lovely little creatures well.......more

Goodreads review by Jerry on February 03, 2021

A book about butterflies cannot be a bad book. This was no exception to that rule. Excellent from start to finish. Interestingly, I finished this book today and my wife spent some time today ordering flower seeds...including milkweed for our backyard. Can't wait to see our butterfly bush spring to l......more