Monarch Butterflies
Migration Update: May 29, 2008
Please Report
Your Sightings! >>

Today's Report Includes:

How does the monarch get out of its shell? >>

 
The Migration: Maps, Questions and Highlights

Map/Animation/Sightings


How much farther north? >>

Map Questions >>

Highlights: Another Cold, Slow Week in the North

Brrrrrr! Unseasonably cold temperatures across the north held the monarch migration in place during most of the past week. Watch the animated migration map. Notice that the migration's leading edge appears to have stalled at 45 N from Minnesota to Ontario. The migration is lagging even farther behind in the east where it's hovering at only 42N.

Still cooler than normal in the north
May 11-17, 2008 May 18-24, 2008

Also notice how few monarchs were reported during the past week. We're still waiting for the explosion in numbers that has typically occurred by now. For perspective, only 25 monarchs were reported this week compared to over 70 during the same week in 2006 and 50 in 2007. Do you think this will change by next week? Let's see!

  • Compare: How unusual is May 2008? Look at the May 30th animation and see if you agree with this analysis: The migration clearly looks behind its postion in 5 years of the last 8 years. (Look how much farther ahead the butterflies were in 2007, 2006, 2002, 2001 and 2000.) The other three years (2003, 2004, and 2005) the migration was either about equal to or behind its position this year. >>
  • Predict: Monarchs have arrived in four new states: New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. How much farther north will the monarchs travel? >>
Spotlight: Early Monarch in Ontario: Weather Backtracking Tells a Story >>

Update your records because the first Canadian sighting was not on May 8th as we reported previously but on April 27th according to an observer in Port Glasgow, Ontario. Let's look at the weather conditions that occurred before the very early monarch appeared in Ontario. This process is called "weather backtracking."

  • Early Monarch in Ontario: Weather Backtracking Tells a Story >>

 
Symbolic Monarchs: Over 18,000 on the Map! Are Yours? >>

There are now over 18,000 children's butterflies on the map, yet over 70,000 children sent symbolic monarchs to Mexico. This means thousand of children are still waiting to see where their butterflies landed.

Please help! If you have not put your butterflies on the map yet please report now. >>

 

 

Kids are waiting— please report! >>

Year-end Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts! >>

Will you take a few minutes to complete our Year-end Evaluation?

With your help, we can we document Journey North's reach, impact and value. We need comments like yours to keep the program going and growing.

Thank you! >>

Year-end Evaluation >>
 Links: Monarch Butterfly Resources to Explore
More Monarch Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on June 5, 2008.

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