Last winter, the monarchs were crowded into a few small sanctuaries. Look at the area they cover now! The migration has moved into Manitoba, and the northernmost monarchs have reached latitude 50° north. How much farther do you predict they'll travel?

This Week's Update Includes:

• News: Monarchs Make Manitoba!
• The Migration: Maps and Journal Page
• Annual Evaluation: Please share your thoughts!

News: Monarchs Make Manitoba!

On Saturday, first grade teacher Mary Wall saw four monarchs in a single day at Pembina Valley Provincial Park in Manitoba. She even snapped a picture:

"With dandelions in full bloom and in abundance, the monarchs lit on these blossoms. I will be sharing photos with my students who are regularly reminding me to check Journey North for sighting updates!" she exclaimed.

Two days later, Jan Kushnier reported this season's northernmost monarch laying eggs in Winnipeg: "I have just collected 20 eggs to share with teachers from Monarch Teacher Network who are meeting at my house for a planning session."

Evidence of Overwater Crossing
On an island in Ontario on Monday, an astonishing 11 monarchs were sighted in only 2 hours: "They likely had just crossed Lake Huron," wrote the observer who saw them. Find Manitoulin Island on a map. How many miles of open water might the monarchs have crossed?

Lilacs and Monarch Migration
A lovely photo of a monarch on lilacs was sent by Steve Augustin from Grand Forks, North Dakota. Each spring, as lilacs bloom from south to north, monarchs move with them. Here are the dates, states, and provinces where people noted monarchs feeding on blooming lilacs this spring:

• March: Texas, Oklahoma
• April: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, Virginia
• May: Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ontario, Quebec
• June: North Dakota, Manitoba, Ontario

Sightings per Week: Continuing to Climb
Nearly 100 people reported first monarchs during the past week. Notice how gradually weekly sightings have climbed throughout the month of May. (See Sightings per Week graph.)

Sightings per Month: An Unusual Year
Look at this spring's sightings month-by-month, and compare numbers to previous years. (See Sightings per Month graph.)

• For the first time ever, more monarchs were reported in April this spring than in May. (On average, the number of sightings has increased each month from March through May.)
• What might have caused this pattern? Did the monarchs move in April into regions where people do not usually see or report them until May? Has reproduction been low—or slow—this spring so May sightings have climbed more slowly than usual?

From Small Sanctuaries to Three Countries
Last winter the monarchs were crowded into a few small sanctuaries. Look at the area they cover now!

• For your journal: How far north will the monarchs will travel? Predict and hypothesize in your journal this week.

Monarch in Manitoba
Photo: Mary Wall

Lilacs and Monarch Migration
Photo: Steve Augustin

Sightings per Week
Continuing to Climb

Sightings per Month
An Unusual Year

Eating the Eggshell
Photo: Sue Fox McGovernl

• Annual Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts