Winter Sightings! >>
Today's Report Includes:
- News from Mexico: A Time for Going Home!
- Field Reports from:
- The Migration: Maps, Questions and Highlights
- Field Reports from Citizen Scientists: How Could Drought in Texas Affect Monarchs?
- Slideshow: Predict the Patterns of Spring Migration
- Report Your Sightings! Help Track the Monarch Migration From Mexico
- Links: Monarch Butterfly Resources to Explore
Photo:
Dr. Lincoln Brower
Where will the monarchs go next?
Field Report from the Director of Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
March
14, 2009
The official word is in from the Director of the Monarch Reserve in Mexico:
"Indeed the monarchs are in full return toward the northern areas,
since there are no longer butterflies in five of the eleven colonies where
they were found this winter season. Monarchs are still present at the
two largest colonies of El Rosario and Chincua, where the butterflies
are drinking water and mating in considerable numbers." Biologist
Felipe Martinez, courtesy of Rocio Trevino, Correo Real.
Adriane
Grimaldi
Monarchs
in Flight
Can
you find the pair in nuptial flight? (See larger
image.)
Field
Report from Mexico by Dr. Bill Calvert
In his last report from Mexico, Dr. Calvert describes the final frenzy
as the monarchs prepare for spring migration. On March 12th they also
witnessed the silent beginning of spring migration:
"High up over the forest canopy and fields, monarchs were seen flying northwards. We surmised that these were those that had begun the migration home, just as we will do this coming Saturday."
March is favorite time to visit the overwintering sites because the butterflies are so active. For information on future monarch adventures to Mexico with Dr. Calvert, contact Bonnie Chase or Bill Calvert (bchasemail@yahoo.com or wmcalvert@sbcglobal.net)
A
time for going home!
by
Dr. Bill Calvert
 Monarchs (map/sightings) |
 Milkweed (map/sightings) |
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Highlights: Monarchs Arriving in Drought-stricken Texas "Monarchs moving into Texas this spring are finding much of the state gripped by drought," noted Texas butterfly specialist Dale Clark. "This lack of rainfall translates into fewer _____ for females to use as host plants and fewer ______ to feed adult butterflies." If you know how a drought can affect monarch butterflies you can complete Mr. Clark's sentence. Read this week's comments from observers to learn more.
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The monarchs are pouring out of Mexico now and are beginning to arrive in 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. Scientists need to understand which regions are the most important to monarchs in the springtime. Where do you predict the monarchs will go next?
Slideshow >>
- Get Ready to Track Spring Migration: How to Watch for Monarchs
- Pre-Migration Map: Getting Ready for the Migration
- Journal: The Monarch Butterfly's Spring Migration
- Overview: About Journey North's Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Study
- Ongoing Lesson: Predicting the Route of the Spring Migration
- Orientation: About Journey North's Spring Monarch Migration Study
The Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on March 26, 2009.
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