| Where did the monarch that was spotted in England come from? |  Image: NASA's Goddard Flight Center |
Mr. Vince Smith, who saw the monarch, shared his views:
Monarch biologist Dr. Bill Calvert, who has studied monarchs for over 30 years, forwarded these thoughts:
"It's conceivable that the monarchs were carried aloft and blown over 2,000 miles. It would take more than a day, and monarchs don't normally fly at night--they get disoriented and can't fly. But if caught in high velocity, high altitude winds they can't come down."
Journaling Questions
- After reading the evidence given by these experts, what do you think?
- Which facts best support the theory that the monarch did cross the Atlantic Ocean?
- Which facts make you skeptical?
- What words do the experts use to convey uncertaintty?
- Scientists who study butterfly migration in England have considered 4 main theories. Read carefully and see if you can find all four. (See The Monarch invasion of Great Britain, 1995)
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