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Migration
Update: October 2, 2008 |
Please
Report
Your Sightings! >> |
Latest
News
This is the week to wish you were in Oklahoma! Linda Schemmer of Kingfisher,
OK, saw it coming. After a week of light, southerly winds she predicted
a big flight of monarchs would arrive with the next cold front.
And
look what happened! The map
of peak sightings shows the leading edge of the migration advanced
perhaps as many as 300 miles, from southern Kansas into northern Texas:
Here are a few of the comments:
- Sept.
29: Stillwater, Oklahoma
(36 N, -97 W)
Helena and her Daddy saw monarchs migrating south while at a soccer
field on the north edge of Stillwater. At 6 pm, we saw approximately
30 per minute...
- Sept.
30: Kingfisher, Oklahoma
(36 N, -98 W)
They're coming through!!! From 10:00- 10:20 a.m., I counted 1-4 Monarchs,
mostly singles, every 5 seconds...
- Sept.
30: Marietta, Oklahoma
(34 N,-97 W)
"THEY'RE HERE!!! Woohoo!...From about 6:50 until about 7:10, the
party was on! The monarchs were coming through at the rate of about
25 per minute from 6:50 to 7:00 p.m. and then at about 50 per minute
until 7:10 or so.
- Oct.
1: Carrolton,
Texas (33 N, -97 W)
From 10:15AM to 10:45AM we saw 299 Monarch butterflies pass over our
house
Explore this week's sightings!
What
does it look like when monarchs come down to rest in the evening? Read
this first-hand account and look for details. Notice the many numbers
the observer included in her notes. What do you know because she quantified
(measured or counted) her observations?
|
Coming
With the Cold Front!
Watch the cold front move across Oklahoma and into Texas. A clear
wave of monarchs moved with it. |
For
Your Journal
Explore this week's sightings!
What
does it look like when monarchs come down to rest in the evening?
Read this first-hand account and look for details! |
|
Please
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.
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Focus:
Wind, Weather and Migration |
Monarchs
could not make it to Mexico without help from the wind. Monarchs probably
ride the layer of uplifted air associated with the advancing edge of cold
fronts, says monarch scientist Dr. Bill Calvert. "It's like catching
a bus going your way. In this case the ride is even free!"
Monarchs
would burn too much energy if they had to flap their wings all the way
to central Mexico. They save energy by soaring and gliding. In fact, research
by Dr. David Gibo found that monarchs burn the same amount of energy (140
mg) in only 44 hours of flapping flight as they burn in over 1,000 hours
of soaring/gliding fight.
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The
Migration: Maps, Data and Questions |
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Habitat
Projects: Tell About Yours! Read About Others! |
Join
people across North America who are helping wildlife by creating
backyard habitat.
- In
Kentucky: Mrs. Moran's 3-5 grade science classes in Kentucky
are working on a habitat project to restore milkweed host plants
for monarchs and other nectar plants.
- In
Nova Scotia: The community is working together to make
a difference! Students were involved in all aspects: research,
canvassing local businesses for supplies, digging, planting, etc.
It has been a great learning experience for us all.
- In
Minnesota: Cedar Park Elementary planted native plant
communities in their gardens are healthy habitats for our Minnesota
wildlife. The students, birds and monarchs are enjoying the comfortable
fall temperatures and wildflowers.
- Read
about the habitat projects other people are creating and tell
about yours!
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Tell
about your habitat projects and read about others!
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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 October 9, 2008.
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