This Week's Update Includes:

• News: A Spectacular Show at the Sanctuary
• Slideshow: Monarchs and Their Predators
• The Migration: Maps and Journal

"I was stunned when we reached the sanctuary. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the spectacular number of butterflies on the trees!"

• Meet the Tourists (English and Spanish)

Recovering Monarch Tags
Thousands of people tag monarch butterflies each fall. Everyone hopes their monarch will make it to Mexico, and dreams that their tag will be found. Several hundred tags are recovered each season. How? This coming weekend, Diane Pruden will travel to the sanctuaries to recover found tags as a Monarch Watch representative. For each tag recovered Diane will provide a 50-peso reward. People, like the boys in this photo, watch carefully for the tiny white tags. They know Monarch Watch will be coming soon. Estela plans to travel with Diane next weekend as a helpful guide, translator and our local reporter. Watch for her story next week.

• To provide financial support for this effort please contact Monarch Watch.

Winter Population Size?
We are still waiting for the Mexican government to release news about the size of this winter's population. The measurements are made in December, so reflect the early-season status of the population before winter mortality. For example, predators alone can reduce the population by 15%. Winter storms, starvation and other causes of mortality take untold numbers each season. Thus, when spring migration begins, the population will be smaller than the annual December data show. Despite these limitations, these data are the best annual measure scientists have. We'll provide the information as soon as it's released.

• Slideshow: Monarchs and Their Predators in Mexico
  

Slideshow

• Please report monarch and milkweed sightings.

		Journal
First Monarch (map | animation | sightings)	First Milkweed (map | animation | sightings)