I just returned from Mexico at 2:30 this morning. Our five day trip was very successful in that we not only got to see more than 25 million monarchs but also had a very educational experience seeing and learning about the people and culture of central Mexico.
We went to El Rosario on Thursday, March 2nd. The day was very warm and sunny so there was a great deal of monarch activiy all over. The fir trees were hanging with monarchs in shaded areas, while the sunny areas had thousands in flight. Many could be seen nectaring on flowers or drinking in puddles on the ground. Also interesting was the number of dead monarchs all over. Since it has been a mild winter, I assume most of the dead have died from natural causes not related to cold weather.
Having finally seen the monarch wintering areas and the ways in which the local people must survive off from the land, I am stiil not yet able to clearly speculate as to how well the colonies will survive the test of time. When viewed from a distance it is easy to see how much mountainside habitat has been destroyed already to make room for the expanding numbers of people. I believe only time will tell whether or not the recent scientific discovery of these colonies will further their preservation.
In addition to seeing millions of monarchs at the El Rosario Sanctuary, our five day trip included opportunities to see how people in the countryside make a living. When I use the phrase, 'make a living', it probably has a different meaning to the people in the Mexican countryside than it does to most of us here in the states. Country dwellings were typically small houses, some looking like shacks, made of wood or block. They often appeared occupied by families of four, five, six or more. Each dwelling area was very 'busy' looking, with home made corn cribs often present, flowers in tin cans, many animals, sheep, dogs, turkeys, burros, chicken, and horses, and clothes washing and hanging areas usually visible. Most dwellings appeared to have a parcel of farm land land nearby or perhaps up the mountainside short way from the home site.
Having never been to central Mexico before, the two things which I saw that had the greatest impression on on me were the burros, often led by men or children, carrying firewood or water, and the many women I saw washing clothes in a stream or using a rock and wash tub. The work pace was typically very slow, often making me wonder which is better, the 'treadmills' we often get ourselves on or their slower way of life.
Spending some time in the village of Valle De Bravo, we were able to see examples of town life. Valle De Brava supposedly has about 80,000 people living in and around the city. Streets are narrow, lined with shops and houses, and have many vehicles moving about in a fairly organized state of chaos. The town square, which included a large church was always a place of much activity, espcially on Ash Wednesday and Friday evening, two times during which we did a lot of people watching. On Friday evening the young people were the dominant group in town carrying on as young people do most places, little groups of guys and gals either having fun together or eyeing one another.
The most disappointing part of the trip was not being able to communicate more easily with the locals. When I return, hopefully next year, to share this experience with more interested monarch watchers, I will certainly go with a better grasp of the language.
Greg Munson, 0535qhnc@InforMNs.k12.MN.US Fax (507) 287-1345
Director, Quarry Hill Nature Center Director, Midwest Monarch Project 701 Silver Creek Rd. N.E. 3116 Harbor Dr. S.E. Rochester, MN 55906 Rochester, MN 55904 (507) 281-6114 (507) 285-5670
Journey North 125 North First Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 Phone: (612)339-6959