So far the monarch breeding population in the interior
valleys and mountains of California is doing
significantly better than last year and field reports from others
suggest the same is true in the Pacific Northwest and
even in British Columbia and Alberta.

However, numbers are still much below the levels seen
in the summers of 1997 & 1998.

Therefore I would guess the overwintering populations
along the California this coming winter would fall
about midway between the low levels seen last winter and
the high levels seen in 1997 & 1998:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/pis.jpg

I can make a more accurate projection in mid-September
based on the abundance of fall migrants visiting my
butterfly bush flowers in my home yard located near
Placerville, Calif. in the Sierra foothills east of Sacramento.

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

Yesterday on my way back from breakfast to my place in Dewey, Az, off
the corner of my eye I caught something disappearing over my windshield
that appeared to be orange in color, and about the size and full
bodydness (the wings) of a Monarch. I do not know of anything in the
area this color and size. I think it was a Monarch. I realize that such
a siting is practically worthless, but if it has any value at all, this
is it.
Stan

Hi Chris,

This list is as good a place as any to talk about tagging!  We always check for tags as we do our overwintering site counts each week (November-early March), so we would be happy to note any non-VWS tags that we found.  What do your tags look like, and do they have a name or phone number printed on them?  One of the problems we’ve run into in the past is re-sighting/re-capturing tagged monarchs bearing tags that have no contact info on them—it has an ID number, but no way on earth for us to know where it came from.  Actually, this is perhaps a good time to ask if anyone knows who in the west has been tagging butterflies with small rectangular tags with numbers handwritten in red ink.  We have found a few of those over the years, and have no idea where they came from—I think it might be someone in California.  

Anyway, our tags all have a toll-free phone number on them for people to call if they have found the butterfly.  Chris, do your tags have a way for us to match them to you or your organization?  If so, we’d be happy to report any that we find.

-Jessica

Jessica Griffiths

Wildlife Biologist

Conservation Ecology Division

Ventana Wildlife Society

HC 67 Box 99

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 624-1202

jessicagriffiths@ventanaws.org

---

From: western_monarchs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:western_monarchs@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of chris kline
Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2007 3:18 PM
To: western_monarchs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [western_monarchs] VWS launches monarch page on website

I'd love to get you California folks looking for my tagged monarchs at your overwintering sites.  Is this the correct audience to be hitting up for that?  Would the symposia/trainings your talking about be a better place to make a call for that assistance?

chris

muirmia@aol.com wrote:

good news...

unfortunately, still no luck getting data from Dennis...have put together a package for someone else to assemble database so we have good start for season...

any thought on symposia, trainings, count orientation for wider CA audience this year?

mia


**************************************
Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.
Chris Kline
Education Director
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
37615 U.S. Highway 60
Superior, Arizona 85273
(520) 689-2723
work schedule: T-Sa 7am - 4pm

On July 20-22 I visited several monarch breeding habitats
on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains in
California.

Here is a relief map showing the habitats visited:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/california.jpg

Here are photos of the habitats:

Hot Springs Road habitat west of Markleeville, Calif.
where 4 male and 1 female monarchs were seen:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/markc.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/markb.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/marka.jpg

Highway 89 habitat south of Markleeville, Calif. where
5 male and 2 female monarchs were seen:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/markd.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/marke.jpg

Coleville, Calif. habitats where 3 male and 1 female
monarchs were seen:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/colevillea.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/colevilleb.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/colevillec.jpg

A habitat slightly north of Conway Summit where 1
male monarch was seen:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/conwaya.jpg

A habitat slightly north of Lee Vining, Calif. above the
west shore of Mono Lake where 3 male and 1
female monarchs were seen:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/monoc.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/monob.jpg

Habitats in Bishop, Calif. photographed on an
earlier trip on June 23 where three male monarchs
were seen (even more were present on the July 20-22
trip).

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/bishopc.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/bishopd.jpg

A habitat in Big Pine, Calif where 2 male monarchs were seen
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/bigpinea.jpg

A habitat near Independence, Calif. photographed on an
earlier trip on June 23 where 2 male monarchs were seen:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/bishope.jpg

A habitat along Inyo Street in Lone Pine, Calif. where
4 female and 1 male monarchs were seen
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/lonepinea.jpg

Habitats in Olancha, Calif where 4 male and 1 female
monarchs were seen:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/olanchaa.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/olanchab.jpg

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

osmia_lignaria wrote:
>
> I am watching some Monarch eggs that were laid on July 15 in the
> Okanagan valley, BC, Canada.
>
> Is it possible to get tags so that I can tag them for their journey
> south?

You might try contacting Don Davis in Toronto
Donald Davis <donald_davis@...>

If that fails then I could show you how to make
your own tags out of materials you can buy at
a large office supply store.

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

Chris,

Did you ever read about the 500-600 fall migrant monarchs sighted
by Gary Nabhan over a 4 day period (Sept. 16-19, 1996) at and
near the confluence of the Colorado River and Little Colorado River in
extreme north-central Arizona?

Bob Pyle describes Nabhan's observations in his book Chasing
Monarchs on page 182.  According to Pyle, Nabhan had been
"running the river" and had "seen monarchs regularly, flying
right down the canyon."  Nabhan told Pyle, he had been surprised
to see what he thought were bats flying before dusk, until his
guide pointed out they were monarchs. "We saw ten to twenty
at once, streaming down the river" Nabhan told Pyle in a phone
call from the road.  In four days we say 500-600 or more monarchs
all the way from the Little Colorado to Hermit Trail."

Anyway, Chris, this observation might be a good lead if you
are looking for places to catch and tag hundreds of wild
Arizona fall migrant monarchs.

I just hope Gary Nabhan correctly identified the hundreds of
butterflies he saw along the Colorado River in the steep sided
canyon as monarchs.

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

----- Original Message -----
From: "J. Michael Nolan" <mnolan@...>
To: <ECOLOG-L@...>
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 12:38 PM
Subject: Monarch Watch Update....


> Thanks.
>
> Mike Nolan
>
> Greetings once again, Monarch Watchers!
>
> So far, I've received hundreds of responses to=20
> the message I sent on June 18th regarding the=20
> future of these email updates (keep the feedback=20
> coming!) - if you missed it you can read it here:
>
> http://www.MonarchWatch.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3D1260
>
> Most responses have been in support of a new=20
> system that is easier for us to maintain, some=20
> have expressed resistance to change, and I=20
> haven't heard anything from thousands of=20
> subscribers (not sure what to make of that).=20
> Anyway, we will move forward with the creation of=20
> a new system of delivering up-to-date news to you=20
> and will consider any comments or suggestions you=20
> may have. Please feel free to drop me a line at=20
> jlovett@... or use our online forums=20
> (http://www.MonarchWatch.org/forums/) to let us=20
> know your thoughts. Thanks and stay tuned! - Jim
>
>
> 1) Status of the Population
>
> Monarchs are doing well. The overwintering=20
> monarch population in Mexico measured 6.87=20
> hectares, a little below average but good numbers=20
> just the same. Last September I predicted that=20
> the number of hectares represented by all sites=20
> combined would be 6.5 hectares. So, I was close,=20
> closer than I've been before. My estimates are=20
> based on all the input we receive during the=20
> summer from observers around the country and from=20
> reading the environmental tea leaves; i.e., the=20
> temperatures and drought indexes recorded in=20
> different portions of the country. For example,=20
> it was evident that the extreme temperatures and=20
> drought from the Dakotas to western Michigan in=20
> July and August were likely to lead to a decline=20
> in the population in those areas and that was the=20
> case. Extreme conditions such as these limit the=20
> longevity of the adult butterflies and therefore=20
> reduce what ecologists call the "realized=20
> fecundity". Butterflies are often nectar-limited,=20
> meaning that adult survival and reproduction is=20
> dependent on the availability of nectar. In=20
> drought conditions nectar can become quite=20
> scarce. Fortunately, the monarch population in=20
> the eastern portion of the country was excellent=20
> with many observers claiming that there were more=20
> monarchs than at any time in the last 30 to 40=20
> years. Without the contribution of these eastern=20
> monarchs to the overwintering populations,=20
> monarch numbers in Mexico would have been quite=20
> low.
>
> The monarchs wintered well in Mexico. There were=20
> few killing temperatures and the condition of the=20
> butterflies we observed in early March, as some=20
> of the monarchs began to move north, was=20
> excellent - perhaps the best I've seen. Returning=20
> migrant monarchs arrived in Texas on time. The=20
> temperatures experienced by the returning=20
> monarchs in March and early April appear to be=20
> important, with high temperatures usually leading=20
> to lower populations the next winter. The=20
> temperatures were high this March in Texas but=20
> April was much colder than normal and the=20
> conditions in April and May favored survival and=20
> rapid dispersal of the first generation monarchs=20
> moving north during those months. The result has=20
> been an unusually large number of sightings in=20
> northern Minnesota and from Thunder Bay to=20
> Saskatoon in Canada. In fact, there were so many=20
> monarchs moving across Lake Superior in early=20
> June that some drown and washed up on the shore=20
> near Duluth.
>
> Reports from the Michigan/Illinois axis eastward=20
> have been fewer and less positive. Evidently,=20
> relatively small numbers of monarchs moved into=20
> the northeast with the initial wave of first=20
> generation monarchs but they were so few that=20
> many observers missed them. Further, eggs and=20
> larvae proved to be scarce in most of this=20
> region, the one possible exception being western=20
> New York where good numbers of monarchs have been=20
> reported.
>
> Given the spring conditions in Texas and the fact=20
> that the butterflies did not appear to get a good=20
> start in the eastern half of the northern=20
> breeding area it seems unlikely that the=20
> overwintering population this year will be=20
> greater than 8 hectares. Actually, it is more=20
> likely to be in the 5-7 hectare range and could=20
> be even lower if the temperatures in the East=20
> North Central region of the country (Minnesota,=20
> Wisconsin, Iowa, etc.) reach into the high=20
> nineties and low hundreds as they did last year.
>
> So, here is the monarch forecast for July: expect=20
> low to moderate numbers from eastern Ohio and=20
> eastward through New England; moderate to good=20
> numbers are expected from eastern Ohio west=20
> through Illinois and eastern Wisconsin; good to=20
> excellent numbers should be found in western=20
> Wisconsin to the Dakotas; numbers in the eastern=20
> Dakotas should be normal to above normal. Right=20
> or wrong, those are my predictions. If I'm wrong,=20
> I'll know I've read the environmental tea leaves=20
> incorrectly.
>
>
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
> 2) Monarch Tagging Kits
>
> The monarch tags for the 2007 tagging season have=20
> been ordered and should arrive shortly. We will=20
> assemble the tagging kits and begin shipping tags=20
> during or before the first week of August to=20
> everyone that has already ordered them.
>
> If you have not yet placed your tag order for the=20
> fall please do so as soon as possible. As you may=20
> already know, we have a limited number of tags=20
> and they are issued on a first-come, first-served=20
> basis until we run out (which we do almost every=20
> year).
>
> Tagging Kits (item#121239 and/or 121240) are=20
> available via the Monarch Watch Shop at
>
> http://Shop.MonarchWatch.org/category.aspx?c=3Dtagging_kits
>
> or by calling 1-800-780-9986.
>
> Additional tagging information, including peak=20
> migration dates for your area, is available at=20
> http://www.MonarchWatch.org/tagmig/tag.htm
>
> Happy Tagging!
>
>
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
> 3) Crop Art and National Pollinator Week
>
> Some of you have heard my elevator speech about=20
> habitat loss - 6,000 acres per day, 2.2 million=20
> acres per year (an area greater than the states=20
> of Rhode Island and Delaware combined). In the 15=20
> years of Monarch Watch, we have lost 34 million=20
> acres of habitat, an area nearly equal to the=20
> land -mass of Illinois. As you know, I use these=20
> statistics to justify the necessity value of=20
> creating Monarch Waystations:
>
> http://www.MonarchWatch.org/waystations/
>
> However, this advocacy extends to other critters=20
> as well, particularly pollinators, an essential=20
> but diverse, group of organisms that pollinate an=20
> estimated 80% of the natural vegetation and that=20
> are responsible, primarily through the=20
> pollination services of honey bees, for the=20
> production of 90 fruit, nut and vegetable crops=20
> in this country. They put food on our table -=20
> almost a third of it. We have to protect them to=20
> sustain our ecosystems and ourselves.=20
> Accordingly, I have been active in an=20
> organization known as the North American=20
> Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC).
>
> You may have never heard of NAPPC (though I have=20
> mentioned it in previous updates) but this is a=20
> rather remarkable organization. They were the=20
> lead organization in support of a study of the=20
> status of the pollinators conducted by the=20
> National Academy of Science. They were also able=20
> to convince the Senate to designate 24-30 June as=20
> National Pollinator Week and the U.S. Postal=20
> Service to produce a set of stamps to commemorate=20
> pollinators. In addition, this organization has=20
> had a positive role in supporting legislation to=20
> provide funds to examine to examine "colony=20
> collapse disorder" (CCD) of honeybees that has=20
> been so much in the news recently. Amazingly,=20
> NAPPC has just signed Memorandums of=20
> Understanding (MOUs) to protect pollinator=20
> habitat on over a billion acres of Federal land.
>
> My recent role in this organization has been=20
> trying to draw the attention of the public to the=20
> valuable activities of NAPPC and to the necessity=20
> of conserving pollinators, of which monarchs are=20
> one. To accomplish this objective, relative to=20
> National Pollinator Week, I asked Stan Herd (an=20
> internationally known crop artist) if he would=20
> create a large crop art facsimile of one of the=20
> pollinator stamps. Stan agreed and you can follow=20
> the trials and tribulations of this project at=20
> http://www.pollinator.org/Crop_art_update.htm.
>
> I tell my students it's all connected, that there=20
> are no separate parts out there and that our job=20
> is to keep all the parts working. It's in our=20
> best interest to do so. If we protect monarchs,=20
> we protect other pollinators and if we protect=20
> native pollinators, we protect honey bees as=20
> well. Let's keep it all working.
>
>
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
> 4) Monarch Watch Temperature Loggers
>
> As many of you already know, we have developed a=20
> new environmental monitoring program - a fine=20
> scale temperature monitoring system for your=20
> Monarch Waystation, school butterfly garden,=20
> classroom rearing area, or other habitats using=20
> Monarch Watch Temperature Loggers.
>
> Our Monarch Watch Temperature Loggers are small,=20
> relatively inexpensive, programmable recording=20
> temperature sensors. These reusable devices have=20
> a long battery life and can be used to record=20
> temperatures at defined intervals for days, weeks=20
> or even months. These characteristics make the=20
> loggers an idea tool for specific applications,=20
> such as determining growing degree days for=20
> monarchs and milkweeds as well as other insects=20
> and plants. Monarch Watch Temperature Loggers=20
> have great potential in environmental education.=20
> They can be used in phenology studies, to=20
> illustrate microclimates, and to measure the=20
> temperatures of nests, burrows, etc.
>
> Monarch development is driven by temperature and=20
> it is likely that the size of the monarch=20
> population from year to year is determined by the=20
> temperature and rainfall experienced by monarchs=20
> throughout the breeding season.
>
> One objective of the Monarch Watch Temperature=20
> Monitoring Program is to create a network of=20
> monitoring stations throughout the monarch=20
> breeding area. The data from each logger may used=20
> to estimate the number of degree days (and=20
> therefore the number of monarch generations)=20
> throughout the season. Collectively, the data=20
> from the network will be used to map the number=20
> of monarch generations by latitude and longitude=20
> across the country. These data will give us a=20
> better understanding of the factors that govern=20
> monarch populations.
>
> We have three objectives for the use of Monarch=20
> Watch Temperature Loggers this year: (1) To=20
> relate temperatures to the rate of growth of=20
> monarch immature stages. The goal is to determine=20
> the growth rate of monarchs in the field and to=20
> compare these values with those predicted by the=20
> laboratory model for monarch growth rates; (2) to=20
> establish the growing degree days for perennial=20
> milkweeds from the time the first shoots emerge=20
> from the ground until the first flower opens; and=20
> (3) to create a nationwide network of Monarch=20
> Watch Temperature Logger users who can help us=20
> establish the thermal environment experienced by=20
> monarchs throughout the breeding season.
>
> We will provide instructions for each of these=20
> applications. Complete information is available=20
> at http://www.MWLOG.org or=20
> http://www.MonarchWatch.org/temperature/
>
> Since we have not yet added our Temperature=20
> Monitoring Kits to the Monarch Watch Shop we are=20
> extending the special introductory pricing until=20
> further notice. Order details are available at
>
> http://www.MonarchWatch.org/temperature/order.html
>
>
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
> 5) New Monarch Website
>
> A new website for monarchs has been created by=20
> the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife=20
> Service, the National Park Service, the North=20
> American Pollinator Protection Campaign, and=20
> Bureau of Land Management. Numerous monarch=20
> specialists and interest groups contributed to=20
> this endeavor as well. Check it out at:
>
> http://www.fs.fed.us/monarchbutterfly/
>
>
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
> 6) Symposium to Honor Lincoln Brower
>
> As most of you know, Lincoln Brower (emeritus=20
> professor of the University of Florida, who now=20
> works out of Sweet Briar College in Virginia) is=20
> the preeminent monarch specialist in the world.=20
> His numerous papers on monarch biology span 50=20
> years. His strong advocacy for monarch=20
> conservation, particularly of the area of the=20
> monarch overwintering sites in Mexico, has no=20
> parallel and there is no question but that=20
> "Linc", as I know him, has had a critical role in=20
> sustaining the monarch population. In recognition=20
> of his many contributions, a symposium in his=20
> honor will be held as part of the 5th=20
> International Conference on the Biology of=20
> Butterflies to be held on the 2-7th of July at a=20
> villa outside of Rome, Italy=20
> (http://biobutterfly2007.uniroma2.it). Speakers=20
> at the symposium include Karen Oberhasuer, Sonia=20
> Altizer, Myron Zalucki, Steve Malcolm , Richard=20
> Vane -Wright, M. Boppre, Andy Brower, Linda Fink=20
> and myself, Chip Taylor. In the capstone=20
> presentation, Lincoln will present a talk=20
> entitled "A half century journey with the monarch=20
> butterfly".
>
>
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
> 7) North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA) and Monarchs
>
> Although focused primarily on trade, NAFTA also=20
> addresses environmental concerns shared by=20
> Canada, the United States and Mexico through the=20
> Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC).=20
> Some of you may recall that the 1997 monarch=20
> conclave held Mexico was underwritten in part and=20
> largely coordinated by the CEC.
>
> The CEC, consisting of the environment ministers=20
> of Canada, Mexico and the United States, and=20
> members of the Council of the Commission for=20
> Environmental Cooperation, met in Morelia,=20
> Michoac=E1n, Mexico, on the 27th of June 2007. One=20
> of the results of this meeting was a resolution=20
> in support of Trinational cooperation to conserve=20
> the monarch butterfly and promote sustainable=20
> local livelihoods. This resolution (PDF file) can=20
> be found at
>
> http://www.cec.org/files/pdf/COUNCIL/Res-07-09-monarch_en.pdf
>
> A news account summarizing this meeting can be found at
>
> http://www.cec.org/news/details/index.cfm?ID=3D2764
>
>
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
> 8) About Monarch Watch
>
> Monarch Watch (http://www.MonarchWatch.org) is a=20
> not-for-profit educational outreach program based=20
> at the University of Kansas. We manage several=20
> educational, conservation and research programs -=20
> focusing on the monarch butterfly, its habitat=20
> and the spectacular fall monarch migration.
>
> We rely on private contributions to support the=20
> program and we need your help! Please consider=20
> making a tax-deductible donation. Complete=20
> details are available at=20
> http://www.MonarchWatch.org/donate or you can=20
> simply call 800-444-4201 (KU Endowment=20
> Association) for more information about giving to=20
> Monarch Watch.
>
> Previous updates are available online at =
> http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update
>
> If you have any questions about this email or any=20
> of our programs please feel free to contact us=20
> anytime.
>
> Thank you for your continued interest and support!
>
> Monarch Watch
> http://www.MonarchWatch.org
> monarch@...
>
> If you would rather not receive these email=20
> updates from Monarch Watch please visit=20
> http://www.monarchwatch.org/update/
>
> This e-mail may be reproduced, printed, or=20
> otherwise redistributed as long as it is provided=20
> in full and without any modification. Requests to=20
> do otherwise must be approved in writing by=20
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----- Original Message -----

From: muirmia@...

To: western_monarchs@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2007 8:01 AM

Subject: Re: [western_monarchs] VWS launches monarch page on website

good news...

unfortunately, still no luck getting data from Dennis...have put together a package for someone else to assemble database so we have good start for season...

any thought on symposia, trainings, count orientation for wider CA audience this year?

mia


**************************************
Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

good news...

unfortunately, still no luck getting data from Dennis...have put together a package for someone else to assemble database so we have good start for season...

any thought on symposia, trainings, count orientation for wider CA audience this year?

mia


**************************************
Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

I am watching some Monarch eggs that were laid on July 15 in the
Okanagan valley, BC, Canada.

Is it possible to get tags so that I can tag them for their journey
south?

I am watching some Monarch eggs that were laid on July 15 in the
Okanagan valley, BC, Canada.

Is it possible to get tags so that I can tag them for their journey
south?

Chris wrote:

> I guess I should define what I mean by a breeding population.
> A breeding population I'm saying is that somewhere in
> AZ, from roughly March - October, one can find breeding
> monarchs.   I say there is NOT a breeding population. 
> Sure, I have found monarch cats in AZ, but it has always
> been in southern AZ in mid-summer through October. 
> I have never seen monarch cats in AZ prior to August
> with the following exception.  

Chris, I think the reason you have only found caterpillars in AZ
on one occassion prior to August is because the land mass of Arizona
occupies 114,000 square miles, and only low 10,000's of monarchs
likely migrate East and Southeast into Arizona from the Santa
Barbara, California overwintering sites. In other words, we are
talking about a monarch density within Arizona during the Spring
of perhaps only 1 butterfly per 10 square miles.  Therefore the
chances of a human spotting one in the Spring in Arizona in are not
good unless the observer is knowledgable about prime
milkweed, nectar or wind sheltered habitats where a few spring
migrants may tend to accumulate.

The chances of finding larvae from mid-March-mid-May are
also poor owing to the low density of monarch adults
and high degree of predation of the caterpillars, plus the
fact that most people search for caterpillars at midday when
they may crawl off the milkweeds.  The ideal time to search
for caterpillars is at or just before sunset because that's
when they tend to crawl to the tops of the milkweeds
or crawl to the outer exposed leaves where they are more
visible.

Another problem is that in May when the first generation
of new adults emerge within Arizona, substantial numbers
of them likely migrate North and East out of the state since
the migratory drive is strong in May.

By late June the northward migratory drive is gone and then
we FINALLY we have a situation where the newly emerging
monarchs in Arizona will tend to stay and breed near
where they were born.

I think the reason substantial numbers of adult monarchs are
not seen in Arizona until August is because it takes time for the
local non-migratory population to build during late June and July.

By the way, I think you've done a terrific job documenting
milkweed occurrence above 7,000 feet in Arizona!

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

Today on DesertLeps@yahoogroups.com Ken Davenport,
one of the Southwest's most knowledgable and experienced
lepidopterists, reported seeing monarchs at:

Comfort Springs, Huachuca Mountains (Cochise County) on
July 1 (SE Arizona near Sierra Vista, AZ)

At Barefoot Park and Portal in the Chiricahua
Mountains on July 2 & 3  (SE Arizona near the New Mexico border)

At Eagar, AZ in the White Mountains on July 4 (east-central Arizona
near the New Mexico border)

I hope these impressive midsumer records, in combination with
several other April, May and June sighting records posted to
DesertLeps@yahoogroups, removes all doubt that
monarchs DO breed over wide areas of Arizona (above about 3,500
feet) throughout the spring and summer. True, larval records are
tough to come by because monarchs in Arizona are not usually
abundant in the spring and early summer, but it is only a matter
of time and effort before we obtain them.

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

It's autumn now in New Zealand and the monarchs can be found
clustering in urban type overwintering sites similar to those
along parts of the California coast:

View from space of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand and the
location of the three overwintering sites:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/ccisland.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/ccover.jpg

Here is a phamplet on the Christchurch sites you can download:
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/parks/theenvironment/MonarchButterflies.pdf

Here is what the phamplet says about the St. James Park
overwintering site:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/stjam.jpg
And here is an actual Google Earth photo of the site:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/ccstj.jpg

Here is what the phamplet says about  the Abberley Park
overwintering site:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/abb.jpg
And here is an actual Google Earth photo of the site:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/ccaber.jpg

Here is what the phamplet says about  the  Ruru Lawn
Cemetery overwintering site:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/ruru.jpg
And here is an actual Google Earth photo of the site:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/ccruru.jpg

Note: Christchurch is 43 degrees South in latitude =
approximately the same latitude of southern Oregon.  I
havn't checked yet, but I believe ocean temps are warmer
in New Zealand as compared to the Calif. coast and
that may be one reason the monarchs can survive at
such a high (43 degree) latitude.

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

This morning I read in the Sunday newspaper about, I believe, roads
being closed in some Asian country to help a butterfly that feeds on
milkweed. I cannot find this article online for this newspaper. Is this
butterfly closely related to the Monarch? It sounds interesting that
here is another butterfly feeding on milkweed that migrates.
Stan

Karen Shihadeh wrote:

> Does anyone know of monarchs using the eucalyptus grove in Pescadero
> on Old Stage Road?  It's not in the Natural Diversity Database, but a
> colleague who works near there thinks it may be an overwintering site.

There aren't any true overwintering sites along the entire
San Mateo coastline in spite of the great abundance of potentially
suitable groves of cluster trees.  Fall migrant monarch butterflies
tend not to cluster for extended periods at time at coastal
locations where the climate is rather intensely maritime (i.e. cold,
foggy and windy) during the fall; e.g. along the San Mateo coastline, the
area between Watsonville and Monterey and the area between
Pebble Beach and Point Sur.

However, there are several autumnal type cluster sites along the
San Mateo coastline that are typically occupied during
late Sept., October and sometimes into early November.
There are also probably quite a few San Mateo coast
autumnal sites that are not in the Natural Diversity Database
because no monarch people have visited and reported them.
The potential Pescadero site you mentioned might be one of them.

Opinions vary about the biological importance of autumnal sites.

1) One school of thought is that autumnal sites are not too important
to preserve because they tend to cause considerable numbers of
butterflies to accumulate and linger at groves of trees where the
coastal climate and / or tree cover are only marginally suitable,
hence the chances the butterflies will successfully survive the
winter are low.  In this way an overabundance of suitable autumnal
sites caused by the  widespread planting of eucalyptus groves since
the late 1800's may have caused an undesirable fragmentation
of the overall overwintering phenomenon resulting in high overall
levels of mortality.

2) Another school of thought is that autumnal sites are important
to preserve because they offer reasonably good, if not optimal,
temporary cluster habitats, especially if there happens to be
a good source of nectar nearby such as english ivy.

Likewise opinions vary about the biological importance
of the fall and winter cluster habitats vs the spring and summer
milkweed breeding habitats.

3) One school of thought is that worldwide, the size of any
given migratory monarch population is almost entirely
constrained by the abundance of milkweed in the spring
and summer breeding habitats, not by the abundance
and quality of the fall and winter cluster habitats.

4) Another school of thought is the reverse; i.e. that the
size of any given migratory monarch population is mostly
constrained by the the number of butterflies that successfully
survive the fall and winter cluster period, hence the Achilles
heel of the Monarch butterfly are declines in the quantify
and quality of suitable fall and winter cluster sites caused
of logging, real estate development, grove senescence
or lack of grove management.

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, CA

David James wrote:

> In a 'good' year it might be possible to tag a few hundred (with the
> help of other WA lepidopterists), but we havent had such a year for
> some time now. Invariably, the spring pulse from CA is so weak that
> the early summer generation in N. OR or WA is extremely low.

David, in the 1950's, 60's and 70's monarchs were abundant
in northern Oregon and Washington almost every summer.  I know
this first hand because my mother's family was from Spokane, WA
and northwest Montana we made trips up there almost every summer
beginning in the mid-1960's.  And in Dr. Fred Urquhart's 1960 book
"The Monarch Butterfly" one of his active taggers in northern Oregon
in the late 1950's wrote: "the fall asters were literally weighted down
with them."

Also, in Dr. Urquhart's 1960 book is a color photo of approximately
200,000 monarchs at one of the Pacific Grove overwintering sites - a
number that is 5-10 times larger than has been seen in more modern
times. And here is a photo that shows most of the 80,000 monarchs
that were present at the Natural Bridges overwintering site in Santa
Cruz in Dec. 1973:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mastertech/nb73.jpg
Back in those years 80,000 was just an average number. Today
80,000 would be considered an exceptional number, even
if one combined the numbers present at Natural Bridges
and nearby Lighthouse Field.

The underlying problem, in my opinion, is a rather major decrease
in the amount of available spring and summer milkweed breeding
habitat, particularly within California.  So in the spring months
alot fewer first generation offspring of the overwintered adults are
produced and therefore only relatively small numbers of new
generation spring migrants move into Oregon ,Washington,
Nevada, etc. in May and June.

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

----- Original Message -----

From: Stan Gorodenski

To: western_monarchs@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 1:52 PM

Subject: Re: [western_monarchs] Low storm related mortality this winter

"This is good
news for Dr. David James in Prosser, Washington who
has been hoping to capture wild monarch adults that reach
Washington in late spring in order to breed them over the
summer and tag their offspring in late summer. "
This should give some valuable data, but why would he breed them instead
of just tagging new emergents?
Stan

Paul Cherubini wrote:

> During the past 4-5 weeks I have visited several overwintering
> sites between Ventura and the East San Francisco Bay Area.
> Overall, my impressions are that the overwintering population
> from the Big Sur coast northward is slightly to moderately larger this
> winter compared to last winter and about the same or slightly
> smaller in the San Luis Obispo region and slightly to moderately
> smaller in the Santa Barbara - Ventura region.
>
> Mortality is low this winter due to the lack of severe storms; i.e.
> storms with cold rains and gale force winds that may blow the
> butterflies off the trees and cause them to become watersoaked
> and stranded on the ground where they may drown in puddles,
> become hopelessly entanged in understory vegetation
> or be eaten by ground dwelling predators (both vertebrate and
> invertebrate). So right now it appears the inland spring
> migration in March will be a fairly strong one. This is good
> news for Dr. David James in Prosser, Washington who
> has been hoping to capture wild monarch adults that reach
> Washington in late spring in order to breed them over the
> summer and tag their offspring in late summer.
>
> Paul Cherubini
> El Dorado, Calif
> (35 miles east of Sacramento)
>
>

"This is good
news for Dr. David James in Prosser, Washington who
has been hoping to capture wild monarch adults that reach
Washington in late spring in order to breed them over the
summer and tag their offspring in late summer. "
This should give some valuable data, but why would he breed them instead
of just tagging new emergents?
Stan

Paul Cherubini wrote:

> During the past 4-5 weeks I have visited several overwintering
> sites between Ventura and the East San Francisco Bay Area.
> Overall, my impressions are that the overwintering population
> from the Big Sur coast northward is slightly to moderately larger this
> winter compared to last winter and about the same or slightly
> smaller in the San Luis Obispo region and slightly to moderately
> smaller in the Santa Barbara - Ventura region.
>
> Mortality is low this winter due to the lack of severe storms; i.e.
> storms with cold rains and gale force winds that may blow the
> butterflies off the trees and cause them to become watersoaked
> and stranded on the ground where they may drown in puddles,
> become hopelessly entanged in understory vegetation
> or be eaten by ground dwelling predators (both vertebrate and
> invertebrate). So right now it appears the inland spring
> migration in March will be a fairly strong one. This is good
> news for Dr. David James in Prosser, Washington who
> has been hoping to capture wild monarch adults that reach
> Washington in late spring in order to breed them over the
> summer and tag their offspring in late summer.
>
> Paul Cherubini
> El Dorado, Calif
> (35 miles east of Sacramento)
>
>

During the past 4-5 weeks I have visited several overwintering
sites between Ventura and the East San Francisco Bay Area.
Overall, my impressions are that the overwintering population
from the Big Sur coast northward is slightly to moderately larger this
winter compared to last winter and about the same or slightly
smaller in the San Luis Obispo region and slightly to moderately
smaller in the Santa Barbara - Ventura region.

Mortality is low this winter due to the lack of severe storms; i.e.
storms with cold rains and gale force winds that may blow the
butterflies off the trees and cause them to become watersoaked
and stranded on the ground where they may drown in puddles,
become hopelessly entanged in understory vegetation
or be eaten by ground dwelling predators (both vertebrate and
invertebrate).  So right now it appears the inland spring
migration in March will be a fairly strong one.  This is good
news for Dr. David James in Prosser, Washington who
has been hoping to capture wild monarch adults that reach
Washington in late spring in order to breed them over the
summer and tag their offspring in late summer.

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif
(35 miles east of Sacramento)

On February 7, the city council of Pacific Grove passed the tagging of
monarch butterflies on the consent agenda.  In addition to the Pacific
Grove Monarch Sanctuary, Ventana Wildlife Society now has the exclusive
permission to tag monarchs at George Washington Park and on any private
property in Pacific Grove with the owners permission.  VWS biologists
attempted tagging at the PG Sanctuary in November and December but were
not able to tag butterflies in large numbers because they began
roosting off of the property.  Shortly, thereafter, their numbers
declined near the Sanctuary and increased dramatically at George
Washington Park.  This new permit will allow VWS biologists to track
butterfly movements between sites and perhaps to recover some after
spring dispersal.