Letter From Estela Romero: First Signs of Spring Migration

Saludos,

Since their arrival in early November, monarchs have remained in single locations in the Sierra Chincua and El Rosario Sanctuaries. Over this past weekend, the colony at El Rosario Sanctuary has moved several hundred meters northwest forming a new colony within larger clusters.

Warmer temperatures keep our fantastic orange creatures much too active:

“I had never seen this before; I worry they are wasting energy they need for mating and for their  journey north; there does not seem to be enough blooming plants for thousands of monarchs needing to re-fuel every time.”— A US American conservationist visiting the Sanctuaries for over 20 years.

Mating keeps slowly increasing. Two to three monarchs of the same sex can be caught easily.

I accompanied a group of visiting teachers to several local schools for the Symbolic Migration Project. These teachers donated books and materials on environmental conservation. We join together to nurture the next generations of stewards to care for monarchs as the beautiful natural treasures that they are!

Estela Romero, Journey North

Angangueo, Michoacán, México

Read the Spanish version of Estela Romero’s letter»

[original submitted, 02/21/2023; edited by N Sheehan and published, 02/21/2023]