Monarch Butterflies
Migration Update: February 19, 2009
Please Report
Winter Sightings! >>

Today's Report Includes:

 

What do you see? >>
News from the Monarch's Winter Home in Mexico

Monarch butterflies east of the Rocky Mountains fly to Mexico. >>
They gather together on only twelve mountain top sites. Find them! >>
Field Report from Mexico by Monarchs Across Georgia >>

The final weeks of the monarch's winter season are here and things are starting to change. The monarchs are becoming more active now that temperatures are warmer.

"The sounds of monarch wings in flight was overwhelming," said Susan Myers after visiting the Cerro Pelon sanctuary on Monday. "We only sighted fourteen trees with roosting monarchs because there were so many monarchs in flight."

Read about MAG's visit to two butterfly sanctuaries this week, and their gift of books to school children in the region.

 

Monarchs at Cerro Pelon

Children receiving books donated through our annual Mexico Book Project.

Slideshow: Temperature and Survival >>

The monarchs have now survived the coldest part of the overwintering season. "The really critical time for the monarchs is January and early February," says Dr. Lincoln Brower who's in Mexico now and will report to us next week. Temperatures can fall so low during the winter that the butterflies can freeze to death.

Why do monarchs migrate to a place that is cold? Today, read how cold temperatures help monarchs survive the winter, and the challenges cold temperatures present. For the next weeks, keep a journal of temperature conditions in Mexico and compare them to your own:

Temperatures in Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Region

Slideshow
Temperature and Survival

Life in the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Region

What's it like to live in a place that's so cold?
An American family found out when they spent a winter in Angangueo. People there do not have indoor heat. The family slept with hot water bottles and up to seven blankets!

Dave Kust and his family

"Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?" asked Mrs. Ford's students in Missouri when they discovered where their symbolic monarchs had landed in Mexico. Angangueo resident Estela Romero, who helps coordinate the symbolic migration, visited the school that has the Missouri students' monarchs. Here is her report in English and Spanish:

Students at "11 de Julio" school made a tree for some of the symbolic monarchs they received.

Teacher's Guide: Using Images to Explore the Monarch's Winter Habitat

Observation is the cornerstone of scientific inquiry. Journey North features a wealth of photos and video clips which you can use to engage students, build observation skills, inspire scientific thinking, and create fertile ground for discussions and new questions. This Teacher Guide provides a framework and tools for exploring the monarch's winter habitat in Mexico through a collection of images. Use the photos and activities as a springboard to address an essential question: How do the winter sanctuaries in Mexico meet the monarchs' needs for survival?

Teacher's Guide
Using Images to Explore the Monarch's Winter Habitat

Report Your Sightings: Seeing Winter Monarchs or Milkweed?

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. >>


Monarchs
(map/sightings)


Milkweed
(map/sightings)

Links: Monarch Butterfly Resources to Explore
More Monarch Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on February 26, 2009.

© 1997 – 2019 Journey North. All rights reserved.