Settling in for Winter
December and the monarch overwintering season are here. Ana Moreno provides an update from Cerro Pelon Sanctuary in Mexico. Plus, a special invitation to report winter monarch sightings in the Southeastern U.S.
Letter from Ana Moreno: International Migration Impacted by Local Political Decision
Ana Moreno, a guide for JM Butterfly B&B, shares news of a commissioner's decision to close Cerro Pelon Sanctuary to the public for the 2021-22 overwintering season. Ana writes, "For the second consecutive year, the Cerro Pelón Sanctuary will be closed to the public . . . The closure of Cerro Pelon directly affects me and other guides, as well as people who rent horses, makes crafts or sell food. But just as we did last season, we are adapting to this situation, and continuing to share the beauty of our sanctuary and the danger it’s in through our Adopt a Colony project."
Monitor Overwintering Monarchs in Southeastern U.S.
Journey North is again excited to partner with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the University of Georgia, Monarchs Across Georgia, and an increasing number of partners to encourage people to report winter monarch sightings in the Southeastern U.S. from December through March. If you live in the Gulf states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida as well as Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, we want to hear from you.
What to Report
There are three types of observations you can submit to Journey North:
- Monarch Adult Sighted
- Monarch Egg(s) Sighted
- Monarch Larvae Sighted
- Milkweed Sighted
Learn more about What to Report.
2021 Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count Update
Courtesy of The Xerces Society, the ongoing Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count has surpassed 100,000 monarchs. This is encouraging news, especially given last year's historically low numbers.
See The Xerces Society Facebook post about the 2021 Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count»
Coming Up
Next week, Estela Romero checks in from El Rosario and Sierra Chincua Sanctuaries and shares a special video about the Symbolic Migration project, and Gail Morris reports on overwintering sites in California.
