Your Sightings! >>
This Week's News:
- The Migration: Maps and Questions/Latest News
- Photo of the Week: Meet a Slow-growing Monarch
- Journal: Field Reports from Citizen Scientists
- Slideshow: The Magic of Monarch Migration
- Teachers: Guided Tour for Fall Migration
- Report Your Sightings! Help Track the Migration From Mexico
- Links: Monarch Butterfly Resources to Explore
| Photo of the Week |
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| Meet a slow-growing monarch and explore climate connections >> |
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Distribution Map >> |
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They're
Off! Flying, Resting, and Refueling
Welcome to Journey South's fall migration season! The monarchs are on
their way to Mexico and excitement is in the air. We hope you'll report
your sightings. Watch for monarchs that are flying in
"directional flight," resting at overnight
roosts, or refueling at flowers in fields, gardens, or
roadsides.
- Here's how to watch for fall migration >>
First
Few Roosts Finally Reported
Where are the monarchs? By this time last fall 45 overnight roosts had
been reported and the first was August 5th. That compares to only 3 roosts
so far this fall and not a single one was reported until August 23rd:
"I'd guess the last few days have been the leading edge of the migration," wrote Tom Murphy from his farm in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, where monarchs always stop to rest and refuel. On Saturday he estimated there were 500 butterflies roosting in his trees. By Tuesday night monarch numbers had climbed to 1,000. "It might be shaping up to be a better year here than I thought," he noted with relief.
Is
This Year Unusual?
The map to the right compares fall 2007 to fall 2008 and shows a striking
contrast. Are monarch roosts unusually scarce this year or were they unusually
abundant last year? Or, could the migration just be a little late? Look
at other fall seasons for perspective:
- Count how many roosts were reported in past seasons by visiting the permanent database.
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Comparing
Seasons |
Here are first-hand reports from people who witnessed migration this week. Notice what these observers counted, measured or compared over time:
- Explore this week's: Migration Sightings from Citizen Scientists
| For
Your Journal |
This week: Build a sense of wonder about monarchs and migration. Invite students to be citizen scientists, actively engaged in real-world, real-time scientific inquiry with Journey North as your guide.
- Slideshows (Grade K-1, Grade 2+)
- Booklet
- Lesson Plan
Are you ready to embark on a real-time, scientific journey to Mexico with monarch butterflies and other citizen scientists? This Guided Tour of Fall Monarch Migration is your planning resource. Each step in this guide includes essential goals, lesson activities, instructional materials—everything you'll need to implement an inquiry-based learning experience for your students. Start with wonder...and discover the magic of monarch migration. |
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-
Symbolic Migration: You're Invited to Send a Symbolic Monarch to Mexico!
- Journey North for Kids: Monarch Butterfly Resources for Children
- Collecting Data: How to Monitor Fall Migration
- Observing Fall Habitat: How is Monarch Butterfly Habitat Changing?
- Encouraging Inquiry-based Research: Categorizing Questions
- More: Monarch lessons and teaching ideas
Monarch Butterfly Migration Updates Will be Posted on THURSDAYS: Aug. 28, Sep. 4, 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6...or until the monarchs reach Mexico!
The Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on September 4, 2008.
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