Migration Update: August 28, 2008 Please Report
Your Sightings! >>

This Week's News:

Photo of the Week

Meet a slow-growing monarch and explore climate connections >>

The Migration: Maps and Questions

Monarch
Fall Roosts

(map/sightings)

Monarch
PEAK Migration

(map/sightings)

ALL Monarch
Migration Sightings

(map/sightings)

Distribution Map >>

About these maps >>

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Make your own map >>

Questions About the Migration

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.

 

Comparing Seasons
Monarch Roosts
Last Year vs. This Year

 

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:

For Your Journal
Migration Sightings from Citizen Scientists

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.

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.

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.