Winter Sightings! >>
Today's Report Includes:
- News from the Monarch's Winter Home in Mexico
- Video Clips: Domestic Uses of Wood
- Report Your Sightings! Seeing Monarchs or Milkweed?
- Links: Monarch Butterfly Resources to Explore
How are people and monarchs using the forest? >>
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| Monarch
butterflies east of the Rocky Mountains fly to Mexico. >> They gather together on only twelve mountain top sites. Find them! >> |
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A
High-flying Camera
Every 98 minutes the satellite zips around the world. It's 438 miles above
the Earth and traveling 17,000 miles per hour. On board is one of the
world's most powerful cameras. Any day, between now and mid-March, the
camera will take a snapshot of Mexico's monarch butterfly Reserve. The
image will be so detailed it may even show the monarch colonies.
Preparing
to Look at Monarch Habitat
Last week, we saw how scientists measure the monarch colonies in Mexico.
This week's news is about a way scientists are preparing to study the
monarch's habitat. The goal in each case, whether measuring monarch
colonies or looking at monarch habitat, is to learn if monarchs are getting
the protection they need.
Watching
for Changes in the Forest
Monarchs need a healthy forest to survive the winter in Mexico. Scientists
are concerned about deforestation (the clearing of a forest by people).
"We will have an all-time, historical archive of the current state of the monarch butterfly Reserve. We will be able to use these images to monitor the state of the Reserve through time," explained Dr. Lincoln Brower.
Who's
Making This Possible? (Students!)
Last fall,
over 500 classrooms
sent nearly $10,000 to support monarch butterfly conservation in Mexico.
These funds will be used to purchase the satellite image. We selected
this project because the images will have permanent value for science
and conservation. Students will always
know that these 2009 images were made possible through their own generosity.
- Special thanks to these students, teachers and other monarch friends!
Waiting
For a Clear Sky
The camera needs a cloudless sky to take the image. That's why
it's scheduled now, during the last month of Mexico's dry season, when
there is little moisture in the air to form clouds. While we wait, you
can check the sky above the monarch sanctuary region on this satellite
image.
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a Look!
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A
GEOEye satellite is carrying the camera.
It can take a detailed image while 438 miles above the Earth and moving
17,000 miles per hour. (More...)
Dr. Lincoln Brower ordered the
image with
his colleague at NASA,
Dan Slayback. (More...)
Photo by Don Davis
Section of the Monarch Butterfly Reserve in Mexico
The area outlined in blue will be included in the satellite image. More...
Thanks to Susan Meyers and Kim Baily of "Monarchs Across Georgia" for sending this report directly from Mexico. They are leading a trip for teachers and visited two monarch sanctuaries this week, Cerro Pelon and and Piedra Herrada.
What did they see? Nectaring, basking, flying, streaming, clustering, and mating. Conditions were dusty, dry, sunny and clear...Go on a word hunt as you read. Circle words that describe monarch behavior and underline words that describe monarch habitat. What new things can you learn about monarchs by reading closely?
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A Ranch Tour With Noemi's Dad Noemi's family's home is beside the Sierra Chincua monarch sanctuary. They live the traditional mountain lifestyle of Michoacan. They grow their food, raise animals, and gather wood from the surrounding forest. Wood is an important resource for the family. Take a look! |
Two Loads of Wood per Week Watch Saul load wood on his family's burrow. A typical family uses 2 burrow-loads of wood each week for firewood. The wood is only used for cooking. How much wood does a family need in a year? |
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All monarchs do not go to Mexico. Please help us document where monarchs are located this winter, and whether milkweed is available.
- Please report your sightings. >>
- Video Clip: Domestic Uses of Wood: Ranch Tour With Noemi's Dad and Teacher Guide
- Video Clip Transcript: English and Spanish
- Journal Page: How Many Uses of Wood? Predict and Count!
- Journal Cover & Pages: Monarch Winter Habitat Journal
- Video Clip: Two Loads of Wood per Week
- Overview: About Journey North's Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Study
- Get Ready to Track Spring Migration: How to Watch for Monarchs >>
The Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on February 19, 2009.
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