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Migration
Update: August 28, 2008 |
Please
Report
Your Sightings! >> |
This
Week's News:
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Photo
of the Week |
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Meet
a slow-growing monarch and explore climate connections >> |
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The
Migration: Maps and Questions |
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Latest
News |
They're
Off! Flying, Resting, and Refueling
Welcome to Journey South's fall migration season! The monarchs are on
their way to Mexico and excitement is in the air. We hope you'll report
your sightings. Watch for monarchs that are flying in
"directional flight," resting at overnight
roosts, or refueling at flowers in fields, gardens, or
roadsides.
First
Few Roosts Finally Reported
Where are the monarchs? By this time last fall 45 overnight roosts had
been reported and the first was August 5th. That compares to only 3 roosts
so far this fall and not a single one was reported until August 23rd:
"I'd
guess the last few days have been the leading edge of the migration,"
wrote Tom Murphy from his farm in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, where monarchs
always stop to rest and refuel. On Saturday he estimated there were
500 butterflies roosting in his trees. By Tuesday night monarch numbers
had climbed to 1,000. "It might be shaping up to be a better year
here than I thought," he noted with relief.
Is
This Year Unusual?
The map to the right compares fall 2007 to fall 2008 and shows a striking
contrast. Are monarch roosts unusually scarce this year or were they unusually
abundant last year? Or, could the migration just be a little late? Look
at other fall seasons for perspective:
- Count
how many roosts were reported in past seasons by visiting the permanent
database.
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Journal:
Migration Sightings from Citizen Scientists |
Here are first-hand reports from people who witnessed migration this week.
Notice what these observers counted, measured or compared over time:
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Slideshow:
The Magic
of Monarch Migration |
This week: Build a sense of wonder about monarchs and migration. Invite
students to be citizen scientists, actively engaged in real-world, real-time
scientific inquiry with Journey North as your guide.
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Teachers:
Guided
Tour for Fall Migration |
Are
you ready to embark on a real-time, scientific journey to Mexico
with monarch butterflies and other citizen scientists? This Guided
Tour of Fall Monarch Migration is your planning resource. Each step
in this guide includes essential goals, lesson activities, instructional
materials—everything you'll need to implement an inquiry-based
learning experience for your students. Start with wonder...and discover
the magic of monarch migration.
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Related
Journey North Lessons and Links |
Monarch
Butterfly Migration Updates Will be Posted on THURSDAYS: Aug. 28, Sep.
4, 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6...or until the monarchs reach
Mexico!
The
Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on September 4, 2008.
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