As a little girl, I loved watching documentaries, with a special interest in nature shows. My entire family gathered in the living room watching specials on PBS as well as weekly series like “Wild Kingdom.” At the time it never occurred to me they were educational. I was just mesmerized by the footage captured and both the beauty and brutality of wildlife. Times have changed drastically since then. Digital technology allows for night vision footage as well as drone cameras able to reach remote and dangerous areas. In fact, the PBS series “Spy in the Wild” is based on footage taken by animatronic “spy” cameras. (1)
Monarch Butterfly Documentary
The animatronic cameras capture truly intimate moments in the wild with rare, breathtaking footage. An example of this is the hummingbird drone that captures a swarm of monarch butterflies half a billion strong. The stunning black and orange Monarch butterfly is a common sight for many areas of North America. However, when shown en masse, the result is overwhelming. Captured in the remote mountains of Mexico, the grove is alive with the butterflies that at first appear to be part of the canopy without any distinct color or movement. (1)
However, as the hummingbird drone slowly approaches, they become more distinct changing from nondescript leaves to beautiful flowers in an exotic massive orchard. The butterflies huddle in the millions sleeping in clusters to keep warm. They have braved the trip from as far away as Canada to escape the cold. Unfortunately, they often arrive when the forest is still quite cool. (1)
Warm Weather For The Monarch Butterfly
Once the weather warms up the butterflies reach a temperature of 50 degrees and begin to spread their wings. They slowly disperse creating a swarm of black and orange fluttering wings. In the episode the narrator notes, “[This is] a spectacle that has rarely been filmed and our spy is harmlessly in the very heart of it.” (1)
The Monarchs are not unlike a flurry of fall leaves on the wind, similar in color with their bright orange wings. However as the drone gets closer the leaves turn to butterflies captured in a cascade of color as they launch themselves from the forest’s trees. (1)
Animatronic Camera Safe For The Monarch Butterfly
The hummingbird drone poses no threat to the butterflies who safely land on its wings. Because hummingbirds are common sites in the forest, the butterflies do not pay much attention to its movement. (1)
Some of the stunning footage includes slow-motion close-ups of the butterfly’s wing movement. The contrast of the brilliantly colored Monarchs against the pure blue sky is beautiful. (1)
The five-part series used over 30 animatronic cameras. Each camera resembles a different animal chosen for its ability to interact with the wildlife subjects without suspicion. Just as the hummingbird harmlessly flies among the Monarchs, you can also see cameras under the guise of everything from an orangutan to a cobra and a baby hippo to a crocodile hatchling. The show is a must-see for nature lovers and drone enthusiasts alike offering a glimpse into both wildlife and the technology used to capture its most inspiring moments. (1)
