About Spring Migration
February - June

Track the monarch's migration from Mexico. Weekly news updates are posted on Thursdays.

Waiting for the Count
January 1, 2016

The wintering season in Mexico is underway. Scientists measured the population in December. Results are expected this month and good news is predicted.

Wintering Monarchs?
January 14, 2016

Are more monarchs present this winter due to record warm temperatures? Report your sightings.

Sanctuary Tour
February 4, 2016

Peak Season
February 11, 2016

As temperatures rise in February, monarchs break out of their clusters and fill the air.

Visitors Delight
February 18, 2016

Monarch Enemies
February 25, 2016

A butterfly colony looks like a bountiful source of food to hungry predators. How do monarchs defend themselves?

Population Up!
February 26, 2016

Good news from Mexico. Monarch population is up dramatically from record lows of past 3 years.

Time to Celebrate!
March 3, 2016

Inspired by the monarch population rebound, people are celebrating the good news and continuing with conservation efforts.

Migration Imminent
March 10, 2016

Colony break-up is underway. Monarchs move down the mountains in search of water and don't return.

Severe Storm Strikes
March 11, 2016

A winter storm of historic proportions has struck the monarch sanctuaries in Mexico.

Impact of Storm
March 15, 2016

Reports reveal great destruction from last week's storm, but the impact — on the monarchs and their habitat — remains unclear.

Migration Underway!
March 24, 2016

Here come the monarchs! Get ready to track spring migration.

Crossing Texas
March 31, 2016

Laying eggs as they travel, northbound butterflies are delivering the next generation.

Building in Texas
April 7, 2016

Survivors of the storm are now arriving in Texas, having traveled 700 miles on tattered wings.

Final Flights
April 14, 2016

Faded monarchs in their final flights are striving urgently to reproduce.

Following Milkweed
April 21, 2016

With milkweed paving the way, the leading edge of the migration is now 1,300 miles from Mexico.

Nearing the End
April 28, 2016

No longer their brilliant orange, the monarchs from Mexico are nearing the end — and a new generation is about to continue the journey north.

New Generation
May 5, 2016

A new generation is emerging and a surge in sightings is about to occur.

Waiting for Surge
May 12, 2016

Monarch enemies take a big bite of a monarch's potential offspring, so how does a population grow?

Few and Far Between
May 19, 2016

As monarchs migrate north, watch out for imposters. How can you tell this is not a monarch?

Here They Come!
May 26, 2016

Riding a river of wind, the monarchs advanced 250 miles northward this week all the way to latitude 45°N in Minnesota.

Sightings Soar
June 2, 2016

The migration exploded across the northern breeding grounds, with 36% of the season's first sightings reported in a single week.

Nearing Northern Limit
June 9, 2016

With migration almost complete, the milkweed patch is the place to be. Females are looking for milkweed and males are looking for females.

Expanding Eastward
June 16, 2016

From 10 acres of winter habitat, monarchs have now expanded across 1 billion acres of breeding habitat. How many generations will they produce where you live?

Peak Breeding Season
July 2016

The population builds with each new generation and will reach its peak when fall migration begins in August.

Tracking Migration with Journey North
Report your sightings to each fall and spring as the monarchs travel to and from Mexico. Track migration on real-time migration maps. Help scientists learn more about monarchs.

 

Archives: Fall 2015