Dear Friends,
"The massive leaving is occurring right now! Monarchs are clouding our town, flying by the towers of our downtown churches in a majestic performance as if dancing to music!"
On Monday, I will go up to the sanctuary to confirm with the guides. For now, I assure you that the massive leaving is occurring.
Estela Romero
Local Reporter
Angangueo, Michocán, México
March 17, 2014
Dear Friends,
Everything indicates that the Colony has moved down from Las Balsitas in El Rosario Sanctuary to Río Grande, an area in the community of La Salud," to the southwest. Ejidatarios from this location are now prepared as guides to lead tourists in there, legally obtaining the economical benefit for their own community. (During the winter months, only the El Rosario ejido benefitted from tourists.)
In all, the heart of the colony at Río Grande consisted of around ten trees--or perhaps a few more--with small-medium size clusters in Oyamel trees. Last week I calculate that the El Rosario Colony had about twice as many, that is, approximately 20 or more trees with clusters of very nourished Monarch.
Was I concerned during the last three weekends about monarchs being rather lazy to start mating? Well, these are indeed the mating days at the Rio Grande Sanctuary.
Monarchs were mating at flowers, in the air, on the ground — everywhere. Mating was so intense everywhere that everybody were extremely careful at stepping in any direction lest we should damage or disturb a couple. They just could pop-up and better for everybody cover their eyes at their intense flirting to each other! Some monarchs certainly died while mating. Something to keep silent and quiet, and reflexive about while you feel your throat going stuck.
The mortality, partly from predators, partly because of natural wearing out, observed on the ground should be within the normal range.
Surprisingly, some clusters formed at a pine tree, not commonly seen, since most cluster in Oyamel trees.
In their flight, Monarchs are clearly letting themselves being taken away by typical soft, warm, March air currents, blowing from south to north. The northward flow is evident, when one stops and keeps quiet seeing them passing by all in harmonious volocity, melody-like race always alongside the river's flow.
Fewer and fewer people are visiting the Sanctuary now as the season comes to its end, so restaurants and the parking area look semi-empty.
Ronaldo (9), Carmelo (7), Salma (10) were watching with me. With gracious familiarity — and in a teaching-like manner as if I knew nothing at all about monarchs — they said:
"'Look, Estela, the colony is up there on that mountaintop. That's where the monarchs are coming from to cross Angangueo."
Perhaps the last evidence of their leaving I should be reported to you next weekend while all of us here in the overwintering sites render farewell to monarchs this one more season.
Until next week,
Estela Romero
Local Reporter
Angangueo, Michocán, México
