Letter from Estela
Gradual Departure from El Rosario
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Unlike the massive departure from Sierra Chincua, the guides at El Rosario assure me that the butterflies were still there as of 8 pm this evening.
March 13, 2018 by Ellen Sharp
The monarchs on Cerro Pelon are keeping us guessing. Judging by their behavior last week, I thought I would be reporting their definitive departure this week.
March 6, 2018 by Ellen Sharp
Millions of monarchs are now en route to northern Mexico and Texas. After they were pelted with unseasonable rain on the afternoon of February 28, temperatures hit a midday high in the low 60s F up on the mountain. The rangers and arborists watching them thought that the butterflies were confused by these cues: on March 1 and 2, many began to depart.
First Signs of Migration!
The first migrants of spring migration 2018 have been reported north of the sanctuaries.
The first migrants of spring migration 2018 have been reported north of the sanctuaries.
March 8, 2018
This winter's population was down 15% from last year, and 60% below historic averages. This year's official population estimate is 124 million monarchs, compared to a long-term average of 300 million and a peak of 1 billion. The clustering butterflies covered 2.48 hectares of forest compared to a peak of 18 hectares in 1996 and an average of 6 hectares. A population of 6 hectares is the target for monarch recovery.
