• This Week's Migration Map and Data
• News from the Migration Trail: Monarchs Arrive in Oklahoma
• Still More on the Way! A Report from the Sanctuaries in Mexico
• Monarchs and Hummingbirds: Were They Waiting Out the Cold?
• Another East Coast Surprise: An Early Monarch in Maryland?
• The Life Cycle Continues: When Will the Next Generation Appear?
• Ms. Monarch: STILL Laying Eggs in Arkansas! Challenge Question #8
• Make a Life Cycle Book for Ms. Monarch's Baby
• When Will Her First Child Become an Adult? Challenge Question #9
  

Use today's data to make your own map, or print and analyze our map:

• Migration Map
• Migration Data for Classroom Mapping
• Slideshow (Week-by-week animation)

Strong south winds on a hot humid day did it: "The Monarchs are now in Oklahoma!" proclaimed Linda Schemmer of Kingfisher, OK. Moments later another dot appeared on the map in Chickasee, OK: "We saw three monarchs flying near our house," said Jessica. "Spring is here!"

This spring's migration surged northward early and dramatically between March 10th and 17th, and then suddenly came to a halt. Cold air dropped down from Canada on March 18th and parked over the eastern US for a full week, as the animated temperature maps below show.

Meanwhile, monarch numbers had been building in Texas. Near Dallas on Monday Mr. Dale Clark saw over 40 in less than two hours! When the cold broke and the winds were right, it seemed as if a dam had broken. "By this time next week, there should be plenty of Oklahoma and even perhaps a few Kansas monarch reports!" predicted Mike Quinn of Texas Parks & Wildlife.

How did the cold affect monarch migration?

• Monarchs can't fly below 57F (unless they bask in the sun or shiver to warm their flight muscles). Look for areas on the maps where the daily high temperatures approached 60F.
• Cold temperatures also slow the growth of milkweed and spring flowers. Perhaps monarchs wait for the plants they need before moving northward.

"They're still coming up from the sanctuaries in Mexico," wrote Estela Romero from her hometown of Angangueo on Wednesday, March 29th. "There are still butterflies starting their journey north from here. During the day, we were seeing dozens of butterflies overflying the town. We thought that they had already left, but it seems that there were still many here."

• Another East Coast Surprise: An Early Monarch in Maryland?

Think it through! Then tell us what you decide: Contact Journey North.

Monarchs are beginning to lay eggs across the map! The monarchs from Mexico will die very soon and their young will continue the journey north.

Ms. Monarch--and her own children--are sharing their life story to help us keep track of the timing. Let's see how they're doing...

Challenge Question #8
“NOW how many eggs do you predict Ms. Monarch will lay, in total? And how many more days do you think she will live?" (Send us another prediction if you like, now that you know more.)

Ms. Monarch's Egg-laying Calendar

Dr. Edson is keeping careful records for us. He is recording the date Ms. Monarch's oldest child reaches each stage of life. As the monarch changes from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and to adult, we can learn about the stages and timing of the monarch life cycle.

It will be fun to predict when Ms. Monarch's first child will fly away all on its own. Just think: one of her own babies might fly to your hometown this spring!

Make a Life Cycle Book
for Ms. Monarch's Baby

Based on Dr. Edson's records, make a prediction:

Ms. Monarch's Baby

• Lessons and Resources for Mapping
• Predicting the Route of the Monarch's Spring Migration
• Spring Migration Journals