Monarch Butterfly Migration Update

Monarch Butterflies

Monarch Migration Update: May 16, 2013

Please Report
Your Sightings!

Monarchs move northward in the east, while the slow migration season continues mid-continent.

This Week's Update Includes:

News: Few and Far Between
Spotlight: Citizen Scientists in Action
The Migration: Maps and Journal
Evaluation: Please share your thoughts!

Image of the Week

Google Earth Tour

News: Few and Far Between

With monarch numbers low, few sightings were reported again this week. The migration map shows scattered sightings in the north, including a surprise first sighting from Canada.

A Perfect Wind
Strong south winds were blowing out of Texas this week. "Doesn't get better than this for moving 'em north," said Dr. Chip Taylor. We'd expect to receive a dozen new sightings a day with conditions like these. Is the new generation slow to develop or are there too few butterflies for our observers to detect?

Invisible Visitors
Again this week, people report seeing monarch eggs but not the butterfly who laid them.

"Discovered a very small number of eggs on mature Common Milkweed (A. syriaca). Never saw a monarch but I guess one stopped by."
Neptune, NJ (May 11, 2013)

Male in Milkweed
Male monarchs don't lay eggs, so why is milkweed habitat such a good place to find a male?

A Perfect Wind

Male in Milkweed
Image: Carol McDonnell

Spotlight: Citizen Scientists in Action

Citizen scientists across the continent are contributing knowledge and advancing monarch conservation. This week's example is the annual spring "Monarch Rescue" at Mississippi's Clinton Nature Center:

Monarch Rescue at Choctaw Trails Mississippi

Rescuing Monarchs
Image: Bill Stark

The Migration: Maps and Journal

Please report your monarch and milkweed sightings.
		Journal
Monarchs (map \| animation \| sightings)	Milkweed (map \| animation \| sightings)

Evaluation: Please share your thoughts!

Please take a few minutes to complete our Annual Evaluation. With your help, we can document Journey North's reach, impact and value. Thank you!

Please Help: Journey North Annual Evaluation

Next update May 23, 2013