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Migration
Update: August 27, 2009 |
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Report
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Photo
of the Week |
Photo:
Vincent Burolla
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The
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Latest
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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.
Signs
of Fall Monarch Migration!
It's only August, but people are reporting clear signs of fall monarch
migration. After watching carefully, they have noticed changes in the
numbers of monarchs they see and changes in the monarchs'
behavior. Here are some signs of migration people have
witnessed:
- The
first overnight roosts of the season were reported during the
past 10 days in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa. Overnight temperatures
dropped into the 40's last week in the Upper Midwest, and that was when
the reports of roosting monarchs occurred. (Monarchs only migrate during
the day. They cluster together in trees for the night.)
- You can
watch this video
clip of monarchs forming a roost on Sunday night in Cannon Falls,
Minnesota. (Special thanks to Pat Swerkstrom, and Tom and Julie Murphy!)
- Signs
of directional flight have been reported for over two
weeks now. Most unusual was a report from Oklahoma of southbound migration
at an amazing rate of 46 monarchs per hour--in August! This is about
a month before we expect to see such a strong pulse of migration there.
You can read
more first-hand observations at the link below. Think about these questions:
- What evidence
do the observers provide that the monarchs they see are migrating?
- How do
the observers try to measure the changes they see in monarch numbers
and behavior?
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Monarchs
resting in Buffalo Center, Iowa |
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Video
clip of monarchs forming a roost in Cannon Falls, Minnesota |
For
Your Journal
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Slideshow:
When,
Where and How to Watch the Fall Migration |
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When,
Where and How to Watch Fall Monarch Migration
What kind of observations does Journey North collect and how are
they important? Students explore these questions as they read and
analyze authentic migration sightings. They discover that detailed
reports are essential in a scientific study of monarch migration.
Students apply their learning by writing their own "Practice
Reports." Finally, they learn how to report monarch sightings
to Journey North by submitting their practice reports to the live
"Practice Report" map.
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Guided
Tour Teacher Guide #1: The Magic of Monarch Migration |
Build
a sense of wonder about monarchs and migration. Start with the big questions
surrounding monarch butterfly migration. Invite students to be citizen
scientists, actively engaged in real-world, real-time scientific inquiry
with Journey North as your guide.
Teacher Guide
Includes
Parent letter, blank map, slideshow & planning guide, journal cover,
journal pages, reproducibles (Journal Page for Research Questions, Research
Chart), related links, vocabulary.
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Links:
Monarch Resources to Explore |
Monarch
Butterfly Migration Updates Will be Posted on THURSDAYS: Aug. 27, Sep.
3, 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5...or until the monarchs reach
Mexico!
The
Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on September 3, 2009.
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