"There were hundreds crossing the road. We had to slow down so not to run into them."

"Since morning thousands began to arrive and around 5:00 pm they formed clusters on huizaches and rested there for the night."

— Courtesy of Rocio Treviño, Correo Real

Just Think...
Millions of monarchs are flying across the continent toward a tiny spot on the planet. They’re traveling to a place they’ve never been. Look at them moving down the map toward their destination.

Crossing Mexico
Two geographic features are compressing the monarch's flight-path now, the Gulf of Mexico and the Sierra Madres Mountains. The butterflies seem to follow the mountain chain at this stage of the migration.

Getting a Lift
The Sierra Madres stretch for 600 miles to the southeast. As easterly winds blow, the air rises over the east-facing slopes. Monarchs use the uplift for a free ride southward.

More on the Way
Large concentrations of monarchs are still being reported in Texas and New Mexico. A rare roost of 200 was spotted on the Gulf of Mexico in Alabama. As October progresses, watch for a pronounced coastal migration as north winds blow butterflies to the shorelines, especially in Texas.

Late monarchs were reported this week as far north as Minnesota and Wisconsin, and as far east as New York and New Jersey. The latter are still 2,000 miles from their winter home, and where cold October temperatures could trap them.

Studying Milkweed for Monarchs
Pilot project collects key information on milkweed densities to help inform national strategies for milkweed restoration.