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    Monarch Watch Announces 6th Season

    Donald Davis (Donald_Davis@stubbs.woodsworth.utoronto.ca)
    Sat, 26 Jul 1997 19:48:25 -0500

    July 26, 1997

    <bigger><bigger><x-fontsize><param>14</param><underline><x-fontname><param>=
    arial</param>PRESS RELEASE - MONARCH WATCH ANNOUNCES 6TH SEASON

    </underline></bigger></bigger></x-fontsize><x-fontsize><param>12</param>
    Monarch Watch: Directed by Dr. Orley R. (Chip) Taylor, Department

    of Entomology, University of Kansas is a collaborative network of students,=

    teachers, volunteers and researchers dedicated to the study of Monarch

    butterflies. Areas of emphasis include science education, research and

    conservation. The educational program consists of student/scientist

    collaborative projects, K-12 curricular materials (in collaboration with

    Dr. Karen Oberhauser, University of Minnesota) and new information about

    Monarchs. These materials are accessible through the MW web site

    http://www.keil.ukans.edu/=7Emonarch/. Hard copy of the curricular material=
    s

    is available from Karen Oberhauser (oberh001=40tc.umn.edu) and a 36 page

    yearly report is provided each May to MW members. MW also maintains a list

    serve (dplex-l) for those wishing to report on the migration and discuss

    Monarch biology. MW members come from 43 states and provinces. Last fall

    ('96) at least 49,000 Monarchs were tagged by MW participants. Recovered

    =0Atags are reported to the tagger and recorded in the Season Summary and o=
    n

    the web site. Analysis of 40 years of tagging data is in progress. These

    data are providing new insights on how monarchs reach their overwintering

    roost areas in Mexico.

    =0A
    New for 97: Press-on tags which require no additional adhesive=21=21=21 The=
    new

    tags are made from a polypropylene all weather stock. The tags are

    circular (.89cm),light weight (<<.01g) with permanent ink. These new tags

    have been produced in response to comments and suggestions by MW

    participants.

    Captured butterflies are easily tagged by simply pealing a tag from the

    backing and pressing it over a discal cell on the ventral side of a

    hindwing.

    The Monarch migration will begin in Canada and the northern states in the

    last few days of August. At this writing (20 July) monarch numbers appear

    to be normal to above normal in all parts of the breeding range and, unless=

    there are extreme high temperatures or droughts in August, we anticipate an=

    excellent migration of at least 150 million monarchs this fall. Members of

    MW will receive tags in August in time for the migration. Tagging

    instructions and data sheets are provided.

    In addition to tagging, MW invites your participation in several other

    student(citizen)/scientist projects to further our knowledge of Monarch

    biology.

    If you would like more information about how to participate in this

    program, please email us or use one of the channels of communication

    indicated below.

    Monarch Watch

    Email: monarch=40ukans.edu

    WWW: http://www.keil.ukans.edu/=7Emonarch/

    Dplex-L: send message =22info Dplex-L=22 to Listproc=40listproc.cc.ukans.e=
    du

    Phone: 1 (888) TAGGING (toll-free=21) -or- 1 (913) 864 4441
    =0A
    Fax: 1 (913) 864 4441 -or- 1 (913) 864 5321

    Snail: c/o O.R. Taylor, Dept. of Entomology, 7005 Haworth Hall, Univ. of

    KS, Lawrence KS 66045

    ---------------------------

    Other fall monarch butterfly projects to watch for:

    1. Journey South: Last fall, students from across Canada and the United Sta=
    tes shipped over 40,000 paper monarch butterflies (weighing 860 pounds=21) =
    to the Children's Museum in Mexico City.

    2. An International Conference concerning the monarch butterfly will be h=
    eld in Morelia, Mexico in November 1997, sponsored by the Council for Envir=
    onmental Cooperation.

    This past year, C.O.S.E.W.I.C. declared the monarch butterfly to be a =22vu=
    lnerable=22 species in Canada. </x-fontsize><x-fontsize><param>10</param></=
    x-fontname><x-fontname><param>Geneva</param>

    </x-fontsize></x-fontname>