No Sign of the Monarchs!
November 11, 2014
Dear Friends:
During the several last days, I've been sightseeing in the surroundings of town, as well as in El Cerrito, and going up towards El Rosario and Chincua Sanctuaries asking some people and children about a sign of Monarchs arriving — no signal from anywhere so far.
I know from some of the Ejidatarios going up to Chincua everyday — in hope of Monarchs arriving any moment — that a very small quantity has arrived.
Today I phoned the office of the Reserve in Zitácuaro and Felipe Martínez, the biologist, was very, very kind and confirmed to me that in Sierra Chincua, in El Zacatonal area, a small group has arrived covering some parts of two trees.
He told me that in El Rosario no colony or even a cluster has been formed yet, and only an average quantity has been observed overflying the area.
He confirmed the impressions that the way the Monarchs are arriving is very unusual and, being optimistic, it may be that they are flying too high up.
Last, he told me that they have news that the massive colonies are possibily coming from the state of Tamaulipas.
For the second day today, we have had very, very cloudy, fine-rainy and cold temperatures and do not doubt that some regions in the central part of our country will have snow. I do not think that we could also have snow in our mountains, but could be seen the low (but not so low) temperatures may be 3-5 Centigrades.
This is so far all I can comment about Monarchs' arrival, our region and weather here and above all the uncertainty flowing in the air about the massive arrival of Monarchs.
Oh, I almost forget to say that Felipe told me the Official Opening of Sanctuaries will be declared as November 22nd. All official Ministries of Tourism and Culture in the State of Michoacán and México, as well as at Federal levels, including the press, are already knocking doors and asking whether the massive arrival has happened and about the date of the Official opening in the Sanctuaries.
This is all for now, and will keep you updated in case any event changes within the next hours or days.
Estela Romero
Journey North's Local reporter
Angangueo, Michoacán, México
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