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Migration
Update: September 28, 2007 |
Please
Report
Your Sightings! >> |
Today's
Report Includes:
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How
much farther must this monarch fly? >> |
The Migration: Maps, Questions and Highlights |
Highlights:
Have South Winds Stalled
the Migration? |
The
wind blew from the south for almost 10 days in Texas, Oklahoma
and much of the surrounding region. That's where the continent's
monarchs are headed, and progress into the region seemed
stalled. But when this week's cold front finally passed,
monarchs cruised into Oklahoma and the Texas "panhandle"
on the very same day:
9/25/07
Kingfisher, OK (35.91 N, -98.02 W)
First wave of Monarchs
waltzing across Kingfisher, Oklahoma today. About 4:45
p.m. I counted about 65 Monarchs in 1 minute, high in
the sky, heading SW, definitely on a mission. When the
front came through. Woo! Hoo! Come on Monarchs! Be ready,
Texas!
9/25/07
Ponca City, OK (36.67 N, -97.05 W)
From 2-4:30 PM, I counted 208 monarchs! They were heading
south at a height ranging from 8-35 feet. They were riding
the northerly breeze brought by the passing of a cold
front which dropped temps by over 15 degrees during the
day.
9/25/07
Canadian, TX (35.84 N, -100.27 W)
Over the past couple of weeks I have sighted just a smattering
of Monarch. But the wind turned strongly out of the north
here on Monday night and on Tuesday I spent the whole
day wandering about the ranch and saw literally hundreds
of Monarchs, all traveling with a purpose on that strong
northerly breeze.
Here's
an animated map of fall migration roosts. How do you think
the map will look next week?
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Here
Comes the Cold Front!
September 25 was a great day for traveling. Watch how the
wind shifts after the cold front passes. >>
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Migration
Rate Math
As
the monarchs funnel toward Mexico, the numbers overhead
become greater and greater. Each week we collect sightings
so you can compare them.
Who
will see the record flight for fall 2007? |
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Slideshow:
How High Do Monarchs Fly?
>> |
People
have seen monarchs flying over school yards and high above the trees.
People have seen monarchs gliding past apartment windows and soaring
"as high as the eye can see."
How
high do monarchs fly? Let's find out what scientists know —
and don't know— about the height of monarch flight.
How
High Do Monarchs Fly?
>>
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Challenge
Question #5 |
This
week's question:
- How does
Mrs. DeLand know the monarch is a male? (See
picture.)
To respond:
Write in your journal
and send us your answer
for possible inclusion in next week's update.
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Answer
to last week's question
Challenge
Question #4 >>
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Links:
This Week's Monarch Resources |
- Experiment:
How
High Can You See a Monarch? >>
- Experiment:
Monarch
Migration Eye Test >>
- Experiment:
Dr.
Brower's Flight Height Experiment >>
- Math:
How High Do Monarchs Fly? Let's Compare >>
- Migration
Rate Math:
Who will see the strongest migration this fall? >>
- Activity:
How much farther must this monarch fly? >>
- Monarchs
for Kids
(booklets, photos, videos) >>
- Book
and Slideshow: The Magic of Monarch Migration >>
- Orientation:
Welcome to new participants! >>
- Go
Outside! Watch
how monarch butterfly habitat is changing!>>
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The
Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on October 5, 2007. |