Today's Report Includes:

• The Migration: Maps, Questions and Highlights
  • Here They Come!
• Journal: How Far North With the Monarchs Migrate?
• Symbolic Migration: Are Yours on the Map?
• News from Mexico: Back School After Sanitary Emergency
• Year-end Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts!
• Links: Monarch Butterfly Resources to Explore

Photo by Raul Gonzalez

A Magnified Monarch Wing! >>

Journal Page
How Far North Will The Monarchs Migrate?

Here They Come!
This is the week we've been waiting for! Monarchs are popping up all over the map — in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Ontario, Wisconsin, and even the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

There were two clear signs this week that a new generation of monarchs is on the wing: 1) Fresh-winged monarchs with vivid colors began to appear and 2) The number of sightings increased dramatically. (There were 40 sightings this week compared to only 18 the week before, and an observer in Iowa saw 4 monarchs in a single day.)

Everybody was talking about the crazy weather. Record cold temperatures were followed by record heat. Frost was followed by temperatures that felt like "July in May." It was that warm air mass with its strong south winds that sent the monarchs northward.

Also noteworthy:

Strong south winds this week

Sue Fox-McGovern

A first monarch in Illinois on Wednesday

After waiting three weeks for the danger of influenza to pass, schools reopened in Angangueo and across Mexico this week. Estela Romero reports that everybody is healthy and eager to get back to the regular routine.

"It was a little boring to spend all these last 20 days at home. We took care of our sheep and helped our parents to do some house work, but sometimes, we just got bored," said a boy.

Here is Estela Romero's report:

• Back to School After Sanitary Emergency
• De regreso a clases después de la Contingencia Sanitaria

Can Kids Get the Flu From Symbolic Monarchs?
With good reason for concern, several teachers have asked whether the symbolic monarchs could spread the flu virus. According to the Center for Disease Control website, studies have shown that influenza virus can only survive on environmental surfaces and infect a person for up to 2-8 hours after being deposited on the surface.

Students wash their hand before entering school.

Has anyone found your symbolic butterfly yet? There are now 11,633 children's butterflies on the map, waiting for their makers to discover them. Have you told the world whose butterflies you've received? Join the fun!

• Add to the map
• View map
• See list

Please 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