MONARCH BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL

St.  Marks National Wildlife Refuge is the sight of the annual Monarch Butterfly Festival.  Most of the events are held in the vicinity of the lighthouse, and include banding butterflies, story telling, activities for kids, and environmental awareness vendors.  Thousands of the monarchs arrive, and feed and rest before beginning their non-stop migration across the Gulf of Mexico.  Some migrate into the hills of Mexico, some to lower Texas.  It is an awesome sight to watch them as they feed and rest.  Near dusk, they'll retreat to some of the trees, where they hang from limbs, with their wings folded.  The mysteries of nature are indeed incredible!!!!