Monarch Butterflies
Migration Update: March 16, 2007
Please Report
Your Sightings! >>

Today's Report Includes:

  • The Migration is Underway! >>
    • Migration Maps, Questions and Highlights
    • Highlights: A Clear Arrival in Texas This Week
  • Where Will They Go Next? Predicting the Patterns of Migration >>
  • Journal: North, East, West — or in All Directions? >>
  • Links: Monarch Butterfly Resources to Explore >>


Where Will the Monarchs Go Next?

Photo: Dr. Lincoln Brower

The Migration: Maps, Data and Questions

Distribution Map >>

Live Map >>

Map Questions >>

  • Map: Animated Map (Week-by-week slideshow) >>
  • Map: Printer Friendly Version >>
  • Sightings: Recent Sightings (for Classroom Mapping) >>
  • Sightings: All Sightings >>

Highlights: A Clear Arrival in Texas This Week!
The leading edge of this spring's migration has clearly arrived in Texas! Our map shows a line at 30N, the same latitude as Austin. But look where the monarchs were last year at this time — they had already reached 35 north and had moved into Arkansas. (See March 17, 2006 map.)

"Conditions are still wet and cool through most of Texas," says Mike Quinn of Texas Parks and Wildlife.

What does spring migration look like? When the monarchs leave Mexico they fill the sky. By the time they reach Texas they have dispersed over miles and miles of space. You can usually count the number you see on one hand.

"It's not dramatic, actually, what you see," says monarch biologist Dr. Bill Calvert. "You never see too many at once. You may see one or two an hour. That would be a good spring migration." More >>
Where Will They Go Next? Predicting the Patterns of Migration

The monarchs are pouring out of Mexico now and trickling into Texas. Where do you think they will appear next? New Mexico? Oklahoma? Arkansas? (You might be surprised!)

Why do the monarchs travel where they do? What drives the pace and direction of the migration? By tracking the migration "live" we can help answer questions like these. Let's watch carefully this spring and see what we can learn.

Slideshow >>

Journal: North, East, West — or in All Directions?

Handout >>

During the first month of the migration:

  • In what general direction do you think the migration will move? Will the monarchs go north, east, west or spread out equally in all directions? Give reasons to explain your thinking.
Links: Monarch Butterfly Resources to Explore
  • Predicting: Predicting the Route of the Spring Migration >>
  • Analyzing Migration Maps: Watch Your Language! >>
  • Reading Strategy: Summarize Information >>
  • Mapping—Key Lessons & Resources: Making, Reading and Interpreting Maps >>
  • Monarchs for Kids (booklets, photos, videos) >>
More Monarch Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on March 23, 2007.

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