Monarch
Butterfly Migration Update: March 31, 2006 |
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This
Week's Migration Map and Data |
Use
today's data to make your own map, or print and analyze our map:
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News
from the Migration Trail |
Strong
south winds on a hot humid day did it: "The Monarchs are now
in Oklahoma!" proclaimed Linda Schemmer of Kingfisher, OK.
Moments later another dot appeared on the map in Chickasee, OK:
"We saw three monarchs flying near our house," said Jessica.
"Spring is here!"
This
spring's migration surged northward early and dramatically between
March 10th and 17th, and then suddenly came to a halt. Cold air
dropped down from Canada on March 18th and parked over the eastern
US for a full week, as the animated temperature maps below show.
Meanwhile,
monarch numbers had been building in Texas. Near Dallas on Monday
Mr. Dale Clark saw over 40 in less than two hours! When the cold
broke and the winds were right, it seemed as if a dam had broken.
"By this time next week, there should be plenty of Oklahoma
and even perhaps a few Kansas monarch reports!" predicted Mike
Quinn of Texas Parks & Wildlife.
How
did the cold affect monarch migration?
-
Monarchs can't fly below 57F (unless they bask in the sun or shiver
to warm their flight muscles). Look for areas on the maps where
the daily high temperatures approached 60F.
- Cold
temperatures also slow the growth of milkweed and spring flowers.
Perhaps monarchs wait for the plants they need before moving northward.
Remember:
The maps show the WARMEST temperature each day. It was far colder
during most of the day.
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Strong
winds on Thursday
How fast might the wind carry a monarch between Texas into Oklahoma? |
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Cold
mid-March Temperatures
Watch
how the cold air mass settled in for over a week.
Source:
NOAA
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Still
More on the Way! A Report from Mexico |
"They're
still coming up from the sanctuaries in Mexico," wrote Estela
Romero from her hometown of Angangueo on Wednesday, March 29th.
"There are still butterflies starting their journey north from
here. During the day, we were seeing dozens of butterflies overflying
the town. We thought that they had already left, but it seems that
there were still many here."
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Monarchs
and Hummingbirds: Were They Waiting Out
the Cold? |
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Compare
these migrations!
Play
the animated migration map for each species.
How
they are similar and how they are different?
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Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds |
Monarch
Butterflies |
Another East Coast Surprise: An Early Monarch
in Maryland? |
Teacher Mrs. Dorothee Braldey was cautious. "I cannot be
100% sure it was a Monarch," she began. Yet a monarch in Maryland
on March 25th would be an important find. So she reported the sighting
and suggested we decide what to do. What do you think? Should we keep
the Maryland report on the map? How would you decide? Here is some
guidance to help you:
Think
it through! Then tell us what you decide: Contact Journey
North.
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The Life Cycle Continues: When Will the Next Generation Appear? |
Monarchs are beginning to lay eggs across the map! The monarchs
from Mexico will die very soon and their young will continue the
journey north.
Ms. Monarch--and her own children--are sharing their life story
to help us keep track of the timing. Let's see how they're doing... |
Ms. Monarch
One of her children may be the first monarch YOU see this spring! |
Ms. Monarch: STILL Laying Eggs in Arkansas!
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"Well Ms. Monarch is still going strong," Dr. Edson
reported. "I don't know where all of the eggs are coming
from!" By noon yesterday she had just laid her 551st egg.
Challenge
Question #8
“NOW how many eggs do you predict Ms. Monarch will lay,
in total? And how many more days do you think she will live?"
(Send us another prediction if you like, now that you know more.)
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Ms.
Monarch's Egg-laying Calendar
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Make
a Life Cycle Book for Ms. Monarch's Baby
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Dr.
Edson is keeping careful records for us. He is recording the date
Ms. Monarch's oldest child reaches each stage of life. As the monarch
changes from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and to adult, we can
learn about the stages and timing of the monarch life cycle.
It
will be fun to predict when Ms. Monarch's first child will fly away
all on its own. Just think: one of her own babies might fly to your
hometown this spring! |
Make
a Life Cycle Book
for Ms. Monarch's Baby |
When Will Ms. Monarch's First Child Become
an Adult? Challenge Question #9 |
Based
on Dr. Edson's records, make a prediction:
Challenge
Question #9
“When do you think Ms. Monarch's FIRST child will
become an adult? Also, in your own words, explain why keeping track
of the next generation is important when tracking monarch migration.”
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Ms. Monarch's Baby
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For
Teachers: Recommended Links for Tracking Spring
Migration |
Here
are links to key resources for tracking monarch migration in your
classroom:
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The
Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on April 7, 2006 |