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Barrier Islands
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A coastal diorama depicts dune habitats from the barrier islands from Panama
City to Pensacola. An osprey in flight, bird nests from the museum's
collections, a cross-section of a sea turtle nest and coastal water
sounds enhance the visitor experience. Just before exiting Northwest
Florida, the visitor encounters a floor to ceiling curved lagoon
case depicting how different sessile intertidal species stratify
their habitats in the tidal zone. Jars with preserved specimens
from the Ichthyology collection demonstrate the diversity of bony
fishes from this habitat. |
See how these exhibits were made > >
FOCUS ON: Butterfly Migrations
Barrier islands are long, narrow islands of sand that lie parallel to
the coastline. Barrier islands are characterized by a beach on the seaward
side, active and stabilized dunes in the interior, and a shore on the
marsh side. Sculpted by waves and wind, they form an almost continuous
fortification along Florida’s Panhandle coast. Unfortunately, people
often over-develop barrier islands because of their beauty.
Migrating birds and butterflies find food and a place to rest on barrier islands. These islands are used both spring and fall. During fall migration, butterflies congregate on barrier islands before crossing the Gulf of Mexico or moving into peninsular Florida. The flowers of fall-blooming plants and the fruits of the dune forests provide energy necessary for such long flights.
Migrating Monarchs
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| Monarchs use Florida's barrier islands before they funnel through
central Texas into Mexico. |
In Mexico, they remain dormant for the winter in cool Mexican
fir (Abies religiousa) forests. |
All eastern Monarchs |
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| In March and April, Monarchs migrate back to the U.S. to mate
and lay eggs along Florida's Gulf Coast, then die. |
Their offspring continue north, arriving in the Great Lakes states
in early June. |
Three new generations emerge, and in the fall, this accumulation
of butterflies migrate south to Florida's barrier islands and
then on to Mexico. |
Florida's Migrating Butterflies
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| Cloudless Sulfur |
Gulf Fritillary |
Buckeye |
Long-tailed Skipper |