October 20, 2014
Dearest Northern Friends:
A new monarch season is about to start and we can hardly believe it!
A few weeks ago, I was surprised when the children who were our official monitors last fall-- Rosita, Javier, Erika, and José Alberto ----suddenly came to me and said:
"Estelita, should we start getting ready to welcome the monarchs? Could we four have the chance to monitor this season again with you for our friends in the north? Look, you know we were born and grew up in our forests and know a lot about it. We loved learning so much about monarchs last season, and at the same time were so proud of showing our land off to our Canadian and North-American counterparts."
My heart got trapped at their faces and enthusiasm. I was immediately convinced they should play this important role.
A few days later, off we were through the wet streets in town riding in my VW named "Rocinante" and heading towards "El Cerrito." This hillside forest above our town is where we see the monarchs first. It is a very important point where they make a last halt before choosing one of the two Sanctuaries nearby, Sierra Chincua and El Rosario.
With our camera and monitoring chart in hand, and creeping silently, we went into the Cerrito forest ready to record the great moment of Monarchs arrival for you, our Canadian and U.S. friends.
"Nooooooo. How can you imagine to find Monarchs now? Impossible. It is still too wet, too cloudy, too raining-like days in our region for Monarchs to arrive. No you will find nothing at all," said three children coming home from their afternoon shift at school.
We continued into El Cerrito Forest in the most careful possible manner in case a monarch could surprise us. Soon we realized it was indeed too early. Finding a Monarch in this time in October would turn scientists and we ourselves crazy with questions about such an odd event.
On the other hand, a signal that the monarchs' time is approaching is the blooming of the white "San Nicolás" or "Todos los Santos" flower along the roads and paths around town, and the Tejocote trees, bending themselves with the small, round orange Tejocote fruit ready for preparing Christmas all over in every family in our region!
Our weather is due to the effect of meteorological phenomenons in the Pacific and Gulf Coasts of our country. Perhaps it's still too wet, foggy, cold, and cloudy for Monarchs to be here, so our monitoring map's levels keep as if frozen.
Meanwhile, all of our children in the region are watching for the monarchs as they go on with their normal, routine life, full of freedom and family surrounding.
"We will keep alert to give you the great news when Monarchs arrive to overwinter with us this season!!!," shouted Esmeralda (white birthday dress) and her friends, proud and happy to greet all of you in the north.
Until next week,
Estela Romero,
Journey North's local reporterJosé Alberto, Rosita, Javier and Erika
Official Monitors for Monarchs' Arrival in Central .
Angangueo, Michoacán, México
