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Note: These Challenge Questions coincide with the Spring 2003 Reports

From: Linda Swentzel (LSwentzel@byramschools.k12.nj.us)
Date: Sat Mar 22 2003 - 09:16:51 EST

  • Next message: Linda Swentzel: "Challenge Question #13"

    Mrs. Swentzel's Third Grade Class from Stanhope(Byram), NJ has tried our
    very best and talked about the order of the states that they think the
    butterflies will show up in first.
    States in order:
    1. Louisiana
    2. Alabama
    3. Mississippi
    4. Oklahoma
    5. Arkansas
    6.New Mexico
    7. Georgia
    8. South Carolina
    9. North Carolina
    10. Tennessee
    11. Missouri
    12.Kentucky
    13. Virginia
    14. Maryland
    15. West Virginia

    We think that the migration will travel this way because of the patterns of
    the spring progression, usually follows from the south upwards. It tends to
    be a little warmer along the coast and along large water ways. The
    flowering plants should be starting to bloom and the butterflies should
    follow along with them.

    --- Original Message -----
    From: "Journey North" <ehoward@jnorth.org>
    To: <jn-news@learner.org>
    Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003 10:17 PM
    Subject: Monarch Butterfly Migration Update: March 21, 2003

    > Monarch Butterfly Migration Update: March 21, 2003
    >
    > Monarch Butterfly Migration Updates Will be Posted on FRIDAYS:
    > Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28, Mar. 7, 14, 21, 28, Apr. 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2, 9, 16,
    > 23, 30...and weekly until the migration is completed!
    >
    > Today's Update Includes:
    > * Sudden Wave of Migration Crosses into Texas
    > * The BIG Unanswered Question: Where Did the Monarchs Come From?
    > * You're the Scientist: How About the Florida Observations?
    > * Challenge Question #11
    > * Field Notes from Mexico: Millions of Monarchs Yet to Come
    > * Predicting the Route of the Monarch's Spring Migration
    > * Challenge Question #12
    > * Is Monarch Habitat Ready for the Monarchs?
    > * This Week's Migration Data
    >
    > Today's Report is Also Available on the Journey North Web Site:
    > http://www.learner.org/jnorth/spring2003/species/monarch/index.html
    >
    > ******************************************************************
    > Sudden Wave of Migration Crosses into Texas
    > What a week! Forty one sightings flew in during the last week, as if
    > responding to Harlen Aschen's command, "We are awaiting the first
    > northbound monarchs returning from Mexico this week." This week's
    migration
    > map shows monarchs already as far north as Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas.
    > (Special thanks to Mike Quinn of Texas Monarch Watch for reporting widely
    > from his state again this spring.)
    >
    > ******************************************************************
    > The BIG Unanswered Question: Where Did the Monarchs Come From?
    > When the first March monarchs are sighted in Texas, there's always a
    > question: Did they truly coming up from Mexico or were they monarchs that
    > remained in the U.S. during the winter? The latter are indicated by red
    > triangles on our migration map. They are designated as "winter sightings"
    > because the monarchs were sighted in January or February. So what happens
    > when spring arrives?
    >
    > * Are Texans seeing butterflies from the sanctuaries in Mexico?
    > * And/or are some of the monarchs the locally breeding butterflies?
    > * Are the individuals coming up from Mexico the only ones that migrate?
    > * Or do the locally breeding butterflies shift and become migratory, too?
    > * Do butterfly numbers to go up so suddenly because the monarchs from
    > Mexico are arriving and/or because the local butterflies are producing a
    > new generation?
    >
    > Short of sacrificing the butterflies for chemical analysis, observers
    watch
    > for clues such as the following, but these are inconclusive:
    >
    > * The condition of the monarch's wings. (Worn and faded wings indicate a
    > long-lived butterfly, presumably having over-wintered in Mexico. Fresh,
    new
    > wings indicate a newly emerged butterfly, from the local population.)
    > * Clear and purposeful flight in northerly direction
    > * The sudden abundance of adult butterflies
    > * The sudden abundance of monarch eggs and then larvae
    >
    > You can read comments in the database to see how observers discuss these
    > issues. And now consider this:
    >
    > ******************************************************************
    > You're the Scientist: How About the Florida Observations?
    > Another fascinating region to consider is the Florida panhandle. Here are
    > comments from Richard RuBino, who has been tagging monarchs there for
    > almost a decade:
    >
    > "We saw our first springtime monarch last Sunday, March 16th. This is the
    > earliest I've seen a monarch in Tallahassee in the four years I've been
    > working on spring migration projects." Richard spotted a second monarch,
    "a
    > well-worn female with faded wings" two days later. And a third monarch was
    > seen on the 19th at the St Marks National Wildlife Refuge, about 25 miles
    > south of Tallahassee on the coast.
    >
    > Challenge Question #11:
    > "Where do you think the Florida panhandle monarchs came from? If
    migratory,
    > describe the path you think the butterflies followed during migration.
    > Defend your hypothesis, whatever it is. Give facts to support your
    reasoning."
    >
    > (To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)
    >
    > ******************************************************************
    > Field Notes from Mexico: Millions of Monarchs Yet to Come
    > "The colonies don't look any smaller, and it's hard to notice that the
    > butterflies are leaving," reported Bill Calvert this week. "But during the
    > next two weeks, all that are here presently--tens of millions--will be
    > leaving. They'll be totally gone in two weeks."
    >
    > Bill and his traveling companion, Jim Edson, are about to bid adios to the
    > remaining monarchs in Michoacan. They'll hop in Bill's van and travel
    north
    > beneath the butterflies. "Along the route north of the colonies we expect
    > to see many, many monarchs passing by," said Bill. They may put 1,500
    miles
    > on the van as they criss-cross the 900 miles back to Austin, Texas. Bill
    > has promised to try to call in from the road next week, and tell us about
    > the terrain the monarchs are crossing. Pull out your map of northern
    Mexico
    > and see if you can find the route Bill describes in today's report.
    >
    > Field Notes from Mexico by Dr. Bill Calvert
    >
    http://www.learner.org/jnorth/spring2003/species/monarch/Calvert032103.html
    >
    > ******************************************************************
    > Predicting the Path of the Monarch's Spring Migration
    > As the monarchs pour out of Mexico this spring, we're watching them spread
    > across Texas. Where do you think they will appear next? New Mexico?
    > Oklahoma? Arkansas? Louisiana? (You might be surprised!)
    >
    > Print out the blank migration map below and draw the course you think the
    > migration will take. Then record the names of the states where you think
    > the butterflies will appear 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th etc. on your Migration
    > Route Prediction Chart
    >
    > * Blank Migration Map
    > http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/monarch/monarch_mapBlank.gif
    >
    > * Migration Route Prediction Chart
    >
    http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/MigrationRoutePredictionChart.html
    >
    > Challenge Question #12:
    > "Send your list, in order, of the 15 states where you think the monarchs
    > will appear next. Why do you think the migration will travel in the
    > direction you predicted? Explain your reasoning!"
    >
    > (To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)
    >
    > ******************************************************************
    > Is Monarch Habitat Ready for the Monarchs?
    >
    > Is Monarch Habitat Ready for the Monarchs?
    >
    http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/monarch/milkweed_map032103.gif
    > Monarchs have an uncanny ability to appear *just* as milkweed becomes
    available
    > * Do you think monarchs follow the milkweed as they migrate?
    > * Will monarchs or milkweed arrive first where you live?
    >
    > Make a prediction, then compare the milkweed and migration maps each week
    > and see what we find.
    >
    > PLEASE HELP: Report when your backyard milkweed emerges this spring!
    >
    > ******************************************************************
    > This Week's Migration Data
    > Use the data below to make your own migration map:
    > http://www.learner.org/jnorth/spring2003/species/monarch/monarch032103.prn
    >
    > Or print and analyze our map:
    >
    http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/monarch/monarch_map032103.html
    >
    > 03/19/03 St. Marks FL 30.16 -84.20
    > 03/19/03 Houston TX 29.76 -95.37
    > 03/18/03 Tallahassee FL 30.43 -84.26
    > 03/17/03 Miami FL 25.78 -80.20
    > 03/17/03 Corpus Christi TX 27.80 -97.40
    > 03/17/03 Victoria TX 28.81 -96.98
    > 03/17/03 Bastrop TX 30.16 -97.27
    > 03/17/03 Weslaco TX 26.17 -97.99
    > 03/17/03 Dallas TX 32.79 -96.80
    > 03/16/03 Tallahassee FL 30.43 -84.26
    > 03/16/03 Bryan TX 30.61 -96.39
    > 03/16/03 Dalworthington Gardens TX 32.42 -97.09
    > 03/16/03 San Antonio TX 29.47 -98.53
    > 03/16/03 Bandera TX 29.73 -99.07
    > 03/16/03 Rio Grande City TX 26.58 -98.70
    > 03/16/03 McAllen TX 26.22 -98.24
    > 03/16/03 Mercedes TX 26.15 -97.91
    > 03/16/03 Temple TX 31.09 -97.32
    > 03/16/03 Smithville TX 30.04 -97.14
    > 03/15/03 Ingram TX 30.12 -99.48
    > 03/15/03 Cleveland TX 30.31 -94.93
    > 03/15/03 Ames TX 30.03 -94.44
    > 03/15/03 Montgomery TX 30.40 -95.70
    > 03/14/03 Wimberley TX 30.06 -98.15
    > 03/14/03 Port Lavaca TX 28.53 -96.68
    > 03/14/03 Junction TX 30.41 -99.58
    > 03/14/03 Georgetown TX 30.62 -97.66
    > 03/13/03 Gulf Breeze FL 30.39 -87.06
    > 03/13/03 San Antonio TX 29.47 -98.53
    > 03/13/03 Cibolo TX 29.56 -98.22
    > 03/13/03 Uvalde TX 29.34 -99.89
    > 03/13/03 Brazos TX 32.39 -98.07
    > 03/13/03 Cibolo TX 29.56 -98.22
    > 03/13/03 Georgetown TX 30.62 -97.66
    > 03/12/03 Corpus Christi TX 27.80 -97.40
    > 03/12/03 Wheelock TX 30.91 -96.38
    > 03/11/03 Saltillo COA 25.42 -101.00
    > 03/11/03 Weslaco TX 26.17 -97.99
    > 03/10/03 San Antonio TX 29.47 -98.53
    > 03/08/03 San Antonio TX 29.47 -98.53
    > 03/05/03 Rio Grande City TX 26.58 -98.70
    >
    > Printing Tip: The columns above will print properly if you set the font of
    > your e-mail software to a "fixed width" font (such as Courier, New
    Courier,
    > Monaco, or any other fixed-width font).
    >
    > * Important Reminder: After we make our migration map each week, people
    > often report butterflies that were seen BEFORE the date on our map. Our
    > weekly migration maps should always be interpreted with this delay in
    mind!
    > For example, 13 of the sightings on this week's map (all those before
    March
    > 14) would have been on last week's map but were not reported in time.
    >
    > ******************************************************************
    > How to Respond to Today's Monarch Challenge Questions:
    > 1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-monarch@learner.org
    > 2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #11 (or
    #12)
    > 3. In the body of your message, answer the question above.
    >
    > ***************************************************************
    > The Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on March 28, 2003.
    >
    > Copyright 2003 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all
    > questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >

    Copyright 2003 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
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