Date: 02/27/2007

Number: 1

Dr. Chip Taylor of Monarch Watch reported on February 27, 2007:

I've just returned from our annual trip to the monarch overwintering colonies in Mexico to buy tags. Monarchs are on the way north. The streaming of monarch down the drainage at Cerro Pelon was spectacular and it was apparent on the 27th that monarchs were leaving the area and heading north.

The butterflies are in great shape. The proportion of monarchs with tattered wings and low fat reserves appears to be low. The winter was mild and the result seems to be that those surviving the winter are well prepared for the 600 or so miles they need to travel to reach the milkweed areas of Texas. The first returning monarchs are usually sighted in Texas after the 5th of March with the peak of the returns arriving after the 15th.

Cerro Pelon, MIC

Latitude: 19.4 Longitude: -100.2

Observed by:
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.