Monarch Butterflies
Migration Update: March 26 2009
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Winter Sightings! >>

Today's Report Includes:

Can you solve the migration mystery?
Final News from Mexico

Field Report from Estela Romero

March 24, 2009
"The last butterflies are leaving our sanctuaries," wrote Estela Romero from her hometown of Angangueo on Tuesday. "Perhaps they delayed their departure a little longer because we just had a week with cloudy and even rainy afternoons. However, since Monday temperatures started to rise again up to 25 centigrades, so we are really seeing the last monarchs leaving our forests in the region."

Angangueo_Farewell004

Farewell Festival Angangueo honors monarchs and spring

Dr. Lincoln Brower Comments: The Need for Departure-data
For the past month, people have been reporting observations of monarchs leaving the colonies in Mexico. This year's earliest reports were February 23rd and March 1st.

"The lack of consistent monitoring of departure dates from the colonies in Mexico is one of the major holes in our long-term records," said Dr. Lincoln Brower. "While we do not have extensive data, I believe that the early reports of monarchs leaving their overwintering colonies are indicative of three possible anomalous conditions.....(1) global warming, (2) premature desiccation (drying out) due to warm and dry weather (likely associated with 1), and (3) excessive exposure of the overwintering colonies to the elements due to logging."

Angangueo_Farewell004
The Migration: Highlights, Maps, and Questions

Monarchs
(map/sightings)
Milkweed
(map/sightings)


Journal Page
What Does Spring Migration Look Like?

Highlights: Monarchs Move into Arkansas, Oklahoma and Mississippi!
The first monarchs have already been sighted in Arkansas and Oklahoma—and the 19 fresh eggs found yesterday in Jackson, Mississippi are evidence that monarchs have even arrived there! Mrs. Smith reported from Guthrie, Oklahoma on Monday: "Just sighted first adult monarch in our yard. The wind is blowing from the south with gusts up to 40 mph so I think it has had a free ride today!!" If that butterfly flew up from Mexico, it has already traveled over 1,100 miles.

Field Reports from Citizen Scientists: What Does Spring Migration Look Like?
This week's observations are typical for spring migration in Texas in March. It's noteworthy in the spring to see even one or two monarchs migrating from Mexico. In contrast, think back to the fall migration observations that people reported from Texas. Then they counted monarchs per minute and reported huge roosts of monarchs that were resting for the night.

 

 

 

 

For Your Journal

What does spring migration look like?

 

 

 
Slideshow: Do You Know a Monarch When You See One?

Do You Know a Monarch When You See One?
Teachers: This week, prepare your students for their role as citizen scientists by cultivating observation and identification skills. Help students to positively identify a monarch butterfly by its distinctive field marks and unique characteristics. Have students observe, measure, draw, and describe monarchs. Reward students who demonstrate their skills and achievements with the special Journey North Citizen Scientist Certificate of Excellence that's included in this Teacher Guide.

Slideshow and
Teacher Guide
Please Report Your Sightings!

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

The Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on April 2, 2009.

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