Can a Monarch Butterfly Fly Across the Atlantic Ocean? Look at the Facts and You Be the Judge! As you read through these facts, ask, Does this support my theory (or others)? Does this fact make me question my theory (or another)? Write your answers on the Weigh the Evidence handout. The Sighting 1. The monarch was reported by British butterfly expert, Neil Jones. 2. The monarch was not tagged. Habitat 3. Milkweed does not grow wild in England so monarchs can't reproduce naturally there. 4. Some monarchs live in Spain and North Africa, but they do not migrate. Other Sightings (current) 5. The sighting in England occurred about a week after peak migration began along the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada. (More >>) 6. On Sept. 27, 2006, a fisherman saw huge numbers of monarchs in Brier Island, Nova Scotia (Canada). (More >>) Other Sightings (past) 7. Monarchs have been sighted in the same part of England before. 8. One fall, a nighthawk was found at the same time as a monarch. Nighthawks are a bird species found ONLY in Americas. (They migrate at the same time monarchs do.) Location 9. The island where the monarch was spotted is remote. It is not a city, port, or populated area. 10. The island where the monarch was spotted is one of the first points of land seen when traveling from North America to Europe. It is the shortest route for airplanes. Distance and Time 11. It is 2,600 miles from Nova Scotia, Canada to the United Kingdom. 12. It takes an average of 10 days for ships to cross the Atlantic ocean. 13. Using its fat reserves, a monarch can fly for 1,000 hours by soaring and gliding. Wind and Weather 14. The winds in the Northern Hemisphere between 30 and 60 N latitude blow from west to east. A strong "zonal flow" of westerly wind (at the altitude where monarchs fly) commonly blows up to 35 knots (approximately 40 miles/hour). 15.Tiny insects and spiders can be carried on wind currents through the sky. A scientist calculated that one square mile of air contained 32 million of these creatures! 16. People have observed monarch butterflies get caught by the wind and blown out to sea while struggling to stay near shore. 17. On September 28, 2006, one newspaper reported that hurricane Isaac brushed Newfoundland and headed toward Europe. (Scientists would also look at that week's weather maps to help solve our monarch puzzle!) Stowaway Stories 18. Emily the cat, a famous ship stowaway, crossed the Atlantic hidden in bundles of paper on a ship! Here, she travels back home by plane after a 3-week crossing. >> 19. Every day, millions of people move around the globe in ships, planes, cars, and trains. In fact, there are 4,000 plane flights in the air all the time! (See this animated map of flights!) The English Coast is 2,600 miles from North America.   It takes a ship 10 days to cross the Atlantic. Photo: Laura Erickson   Prevailing westerly winds of 40 mph are common Click on the image and find the prevailing westerlies.   A Nighthawk found in England is far from home. Photo: Dr. John Kormendy   Peak migration in North America was about a week before the sighting. Monarchs need milkweed to reproduce.   Emily the cat is famous for hitch-hiking on a ship. Photo: Christophe Ena/AP Wide World Copyright 2006 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form.