Flap and Glide
Flapping flight is hard work. When a monarch flaps its wings, it burns fuel quickly. Soaring and gliding flight are effortless. A monarch can soar and glide when the winds are favorable, saving energy on the long journey. Without the wind, a monarch would not have the energy to get to Mexico and have a store of fat for overwinter survival.

Barbara Bonham     Middletown, New York     September 14, 2013