Letter from Estela

 

March 12, 2019

Dear friends,

The decline is speeding up now at both Sierra Chincua and El Rosario sanctuaries but there are still many monarchs here. Last weekend I thought the warm-air current would have encouraged a massive departure but the remaining number is still very decent, in spite of the very gradual leaving and relocating activity that’s been taking place for weeks now.

We natives comment how uncomfortable and even concerned we are about the unknown weather conditions this year. Our temperatures increase day by day up to 26 C. We can see how the sharp burning sun weakens some flowers, “hurts” peoples’ sight, and makes it hard for cameras to shoot good photos due to the unusual intense sun-rays.

Sierra Chincua Sanctuary

The monarchs are occupying about 100 trees now. The butterflies are attracting professional photographers from different parts the world! The colony once again relocated over the last week.  The butterflies moved up to the “Llano del Toro” site, right at the border of “Jesús Nazareno” and “Calabozos” Ejidos. Surprisingly, there are two other much smaller colonies in the surrounding area.

Felipe, my young horse-man, is age 16 and a grandchild to an Ejidatario family.  He proudly shared his knowledge as we made our way to the monarchs. 

“These two other colonies are Monarchs most likely coming from El Rosario Sanctuary and only making a 2-3-5 day halt on their way North, since right here at the high rock-ridge in this mountain the departure corridor runs for them on their journey north.  My senior guides have been closely observing the routes where they have come from!”

“I love taking visitors into the colony on my horse.  Each one of them tells me a story on how they experience, love and care for nature and animals.  Many of them are biologists or conservationists. Every year they inspire me and confirm in me my love to animals. Now I know I want to be a veterinarian and want to serve in my own community in the future here at the sanctuaries.”

On her side, Yadira and Wendy, age 16 and 17, attend high school in Angangueo town. They also  help their young mother run one of the local restaurants at the Sanctuary. They commented as they showed a group of delighted Americans their best recipes using ancestral kitchen tools and ingredients in our Mexican kitchen.

“We grew up here at our Sanctuary besides our grandparents and Mom and Dad. We are now starting to be experienced cooks! We both want to become professional attending gastronomy lessons after we finish high school.”

El Rosario Sanctuary

The colony decreases perceptibly at El Rosario Sanctuary from day to day.  By the end of last weekend, the colony was still extraordinarily high in population occupying around 100 trees and with far much heavier, larger and abundant clusters than at the Sierra Chincua Sanctuary.

Cascading clouds of energetic orange ballerinas performed an indescribable dance to the delight of visitor’s and locals’ eyes.  Unlike the quiet, discreet and decently camouflaged mating in Sierra Chincua, mating is scandalously happening here at “El Rosario” Sanctuary. Pairs are all over, meter after meter. Males glide or spiral down finally hitting the ground loudly at landing. Others take off tightly holding their female. Other pairs are hiding in the underbrush, or chasing each other everywhere/

“They might still stay the whole week and, if lucky for us, hardly reach next weekend, as long as this climate hitting hot-wave is not increasing anymore”, —guides at El Rosario Sanctuary assure with their voices sounding rather sad but highly proud at the same time, knowing that the phenomenon surpassed all predictions this season in this Sanctuary.

Meanwhile, all around in our communities and down in Angangueo town,  we all delight ourselves at seeing “armies” or Monarchs flying high, high up in the sky:

“They will come back on the Day of the Dead, Mom and Dad told us”!, Diana and Tania, age 3 and 6, elementary school graders, pointed to the sky at the many Monarchs passing by at sight!

“We know they are now leaving! Here their pathway back North to children living in the United States and Canada waiting for them”!, little Carlos 6, and sister America 4, shouted.

Jairo, 10, who lives on the way to El Rosario Sanctuary exclaims:

“Yes, now the season is almost over;  but while we are helping our fathers and grandfathers reforesting our forests, we know that we are guarding their sacred ancestral sites here with us, our grandparents assure to us children in the family.”

Romario, Arturo and Vicente, ages 12, 12 and 9 respectively, attend middle and elementary schools respectively, coming from Guadalajara city, in Central México said: 

“This is like being in an unreal world. How lucky for the children living here so close to nature and to Monarchs while the rest of us children in the world can only see this by televisión! How high up in these mountains of our country they come to overwinter! And the impressive height of the Oyamel trees, oh, my gosh, this is like being in a film!”

Last, Joel 7, Sebastian 8, Cuca 12 and Chemo 8, all attending elementary at the surroundings of El Rosario Sanctuary, said:

“Yes, swallows are arriving to nest now and they will stay until the summer is over, so that is a signal Monarchs are now departing for sure.”

The last massive departure should occur at our Sanctuaries any moment now. Meanwhile, violins, trumpets and folklore tune up to offer our traditional farewell festival to Monarchs in Angangueo town, as we last see them crossing our canyons, valleys and mountains on their journey north!

Estela Romero

Journey North

Angangueo Michoacán, Mexico

March 12, 2019.