Monarch Migration Update: September 20, 2002

Today's Report Includes:

• Highlights Along the Migration Trail
• Monarchs Move into Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma
• Migration Picks Up in the East
• Migration Math: Who Saw the Most Monarchs?
• Challenge Question #4
• Wind and Migration: Discussion of Challenge Question #3
• Symbolic Migration Reminder: Deadline is October 11
• Tip For Spanish-Speaking Ambassador Butterflies

• Link to Data: Link to This Week's Data

Monarch Wave Moves into Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma

Kansas City, MO
"I'm very excited to report what looks like a small migration coming through downtown Kansas City, MO, today (09/16/02) . I noticed several individuals floating by our office windows this morning. A great day for flying - little breeze, sunny, temperature around 70 F. They seem to be flying at tree level heights, over 50 feet and above. Easy flying, just floating along with very little effort."

Video Clip Monarchs nectaring during strong sounth wind.

Lincoln, NE
"Several students came back to school this week excited about seeing monarchs over the weekend. They reported seeing groups of 7 to 20," wrote the St. Joseph 4th grade in Lincoln, NE on 09/16/02.

Shawnee, KS
"We were sitting on the deck early this morning and happened to look up to see several monarchs flying very high, much higher than normal. It dawned on me that they were migrating! What a wonderful way to teach my homeschooled child about the migration of the monarch!" wrote Beth Allen on 09/16/02 from Shawnee, KS.

Mystic, CT
"All this week we have been enjoying the continued migration of monarchs south," wrote Mrs. Olsen's class in Mystic, CT. "So far Tuesday (9/17/02), was the highest number of monarchs.....about 12 on the bushes all day long every time we checked."

Horseheads, NY
"Beginning on Monday (9/16/02), and then again on Tuesday and Wednesday, our First Graders noticed a single monarch gliding around on the playground as they played," reported Ms. Donahue from Horseheads, NY.

Erie, PA
"All students have been watching for monarchs. Though we have not located roosting sites, we average about 2 monarchs every minute between the hours of 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Most monarchs are attracted to the still blooming buddleia bushes many families have," reports Ms. Nelson's on behalf of her 7th grade students in Erie, PA.

Toronto, ON
"Watching them drift in large circles before lighting again on a new flower takes me right out of time," wrote Michael Bero from Toronto. "This past weekend I was pleasantly surprised to find more monarchs then any other time this season."

Monarch Monitoring Project's Dick Walton

At an observation post on the Atlantic Coast, people have been monitoring migration every day each fall for the past 11 years! "Results of our daily road census are being posted on a weekly basis between now and the end of October," says Dick Walton. Do you think you can detect the migration building and moving down the Atlantic Coast?

• Check out the Monarch Monitoring Project in Cape May, NJ

• Observer #1) "I noticed several individuals floating by our office windows this morning. I went outside and was able to observe for 20 minutes. I counted 24 floating overhead."
• Observer #2) All students have been watching for monarchs. We average about 2 monarchs every minute between the hours of 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm."
• Observer #3) "I counted 17 on my 30 minute drive home yesterday."
• Observer #4) "Twenty five Monarchs were seen flying by within a 15 minute time period."
• Observer #5) "About 13 Monarchs were counted traveling south between 11:00-12:00 noon."
• Observer #6) "I counted 9 in a space of 15 minutes."

  Challenge Question #4:
  "Who saw the most monarchs? In your answer, use the same units to compare the number of monarchs (either monarchs/hour or monarchs/minute). Arrange the observations in order, from the observer who saw the most to fewest monarchs."

(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)

Here's a worksheet if you'd like to practice more migration math:

• Link to: Migration Math: Who Saw the Most Monarchs?

The 4th and 5th graders at St. Bernadette's in Kansas City, MO, did a great job thinking through the problem! Here's what they did:

We broke it up into 3 parts.

Part 1; Patterns in the Wind: We noticed that the wind direction went N and S. Some said it went se,se,se ne se,se,se ne

Part 2; Relationship between wind and migration: We said that if the wind isn't blowing the right way; from the North, the Monarchs stay at the roosting site.

Part 3; Why butterflies do this?; We thought that butterflies stay around the roost because it would be hard to fly into the wind. The wind would push them backwards. So they rest up and eat and then take off with the next North wind.

• A 3rd Grade teacher in Illinois writes, "Are you familiar with the book Gotta Go! Gotta Go! by Sam Swope? I plan to use it this year to do a play for our first grade reading buddies and let them be a part of our project."
• "We read The Butterfly Garden by Judith Levicoff, said a 3rd Grade teacher in Shelbyville, Indiana.
• "But remember Middle School people!", says Cathie Plaehn, our 7-year Journey North veteran who monitors the Forum, "The 'E' on picture books means 'Everyone.' One of those picture books just might make the connection for one of your students.

Please share any resources you use with your class on the Teacher's Forum. (We'll be collecting recommendations in the "Resources" tab. Later, we'll compile the suggestions to share.)

Only 21 more butterfly-making days before the October 11th postmark deadline.

Tip: Phrases for Spanish-Speaking Ambassador Butterflies
Like ambassadors, your butterfly messages can express your interest, gratitude, and appreciation for the role the Mexican people take in monarch conservation. Connect with Spanish-speaking people in your school or community who can help you write messages in Spanish for your monarch ambassadors. (Or, here are some Spanish phrases you might like to include on your butterfly.)

• Link to Phrases for Spanish-Speaking Ambassador Butterflies

  "Because of the events that have occurred in our country since last September 11, I believe that this activity is excellent because it will instill bonds of camaraderie between our students and students from other cultures," wrote Mary Powierski of P.S. 172 in Brooklyn, NY.

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Please Report Your Sightings!
We can't track migration without your help. Please come to the web and share your observations.

1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-monarch@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line write: Challenge Question #4
3. In the body of the message, answer the question above.

The Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on September 27, 2002.

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