Monarch Migration Update: September 13, 2012 |
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Monarchs rely on the wind to get to Mexico, but it's also a major migration hazard. This week explore how the wind can affect our tiny travelers.
This Week's Update Includes:
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Image of the Week | |||||||||
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News: Wind and Migration | ||||||||||
"The direction and strength of the winds largely determine the progress of the migration," says monarch biologist Dr. Bill Calvert. This week observers reported ways the wind can be a help—and also a hazard:
Hugging the Coast
Stranded on the Coast
Tagging data provides further evidence that wind and water are a signficant migration hazard. According to a study by Davis and Garland, monarchs tagged along the Atlantic coastline have an extremely low recovery rate at the Mexican overwintering sites. Watch the Wind! |
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Article: How Much Fuel do Monarchs Burn? | ||||||||||
Biologist Dr. David Gibo measured how much energy monarchs use during different types of flight. His findings show that 20 times more energy is needed for flapping flight compared to soaring/gliding flight. Monarchs save energy by traveling when the wind is right.
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The Migration: Maps and Journal Page | ||||||||||
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The next migration update will be posted on September 20, 2012. | ||||||||||