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Migration
Update: March 27, 2008 |
Please
Report
Your Sightings! >> |
Today's
Report Includes:
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![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/graphics/monarch/enh/Egg0001_200.jpg)
A Monarch Egg
Describe it!
>>
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The Migration: Maps, Questions and Highlights |
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![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/graphics/monarch/maps/MapServerSelectDate.gif)
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Map/Animation/Sightings |
Tip:
To
see week-by-week changes in the migration, select date in column to
left of map. >> |
Map
Questions >>
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Highlights:
Migration Now in Five States, Stop and Go |
It looked like fall migration along the Texas Gulf Coast
late last week there were so many monarchs! Unusually high numbers
were reported from points stretching 250 miles along the Texas Gulf
Coast, from South Padre Island to Galveston. On Thursday, Harlen
Aschen saw 32 monarchs in two hours mid-Coast, and Vivian
Carroll reported a spring roost in Galveston. It's rare to see
monarchs roosting in the spring and this roost even included mated
pairs.
The
‘stop and go’ nature of monarch migration was evident
as the week continued. Watch the animation
and compare this week to last.
"Welcome
monarchs!", exclaimed Linda Schemmer when she saw her first
monarch of spring nectaring on dandelions in Kingfisher, Oklahoma
on Wednesday. At latitude 35N, hers is our northernmost monarch
to date.
The
migration has now reached five states and in this order: Texas,
Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Each time the migration
enters a new state or province we'll announce it. Make your predictions
and record the results on this Prediction Chart!
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Compare
Them! Spring
and Fall Roost Size |
This
Spring
By
Vivian Carroll, March 19, 2008
Galveston, Texas |
Last
Fall
![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/graphics/tnail/monarch/Roost_BolivarTX102507a.jpg)
By Becky Pepper,
October 25, 2007
Galveston, TX |
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Challenge
Question #8: What Have They Survived? |
Compare
the sizes of the spring and fall roosts in Galveston, Texas, in the photos
above. The monarchs that are alive today are survivors! These are the
monarchs that will pass their genes to the next generation.
Question:
How many risks can you name that the monarchs alive today have survived?
Think back to the beginning of these butterflies' lives last summer. Name
everything you can imagine — and send us your list!
To
Respond: Write
in your journal and send
us your answer for possible inclusion in next week's update. |
Answer
to last week's
Challenge
Question #7 >>
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Spotlight:
Studying Milkweed and Migration >>
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“Milkweed
has been almost nonexistent,” reported Carol Cullar from Eagle
Pass in western Texas. "We are in a severe drought so spring vegetation
is tardy in making its appearance," wrote Ronald Hood from Tarpley,
TX.
- How
closely do monarchs follow after milkweed becomes available in the
spring?
Dr. Lincoln
Brower explains why this question is important: "By collecting
spring migration and milkweed data, we should definitively answer the
important question of whether monarchs are prematurely getting north
of their milkweed food source in the spring."
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Please
watch for milkweed and report your sightings! >> |
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![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/graphics/monarch/Milkweed_TCollins02_200.jpg) |
![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/graphics/weather/2008/Drought031808_200.gif) |
Milkweed
Map/Sightings |
Freshly
sprouted milkweed in Tarpley, Texas. |
Much
of western Texas has drought conditions. >> |
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Links:
Monarch Butterfly Resources to Explore |
- Predicting:
Predicting the Route of the Spring Migration >>
- Writing:
Keep
a Spring Monarch Butterfly Migration Journal >>
- Analyzing
Migration Maps: Watch Your Language! >>
- Reading
Strategy: Summarize Information >>
- Overview:
About the Monarch Butterfly Spring Migration >>
- Mapping—Key
Lessons & Resources:
Making, Reading and Interpreting Maps >>
- Monarchs
for Kids
(booklets, photos, videos) >>
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The
Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on April 3, 2008.
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