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There have been three recorded sightings this year on April 27, May 11 and May 12.  It would appear that these are a few early arrivals at the park this year as reports are that milkweed is still not up yet in the area.

For more information about Point Pelee click here.

As many may have heard or even experienced first hand with us, weather during the 2010 butterfly season was particularly hard on the monarch sanctuaries around Angangueo.  Although we had tremendous showings during the 2010 season, numbers were a little down.  Weather for the 2011 season was much improved and, as you can see from some of our “butterfly blizzard” photos, the monarch butterfly population appeared to be up by comparison.  We noted in two sanctuaries that the monarchs chose identical resting areas as they did in 2003 after the poor weather and tremendous losses during the 2002 season.

April 10, 2010 Migration Map

April 10, 2011 Migration Map

A quick review of the migration tracking map for the week of April 11, 2010 compared to the map for this year serves as further evidence that the monarchs did indeed recuperate during their sojourn in 2011.  Whereas at this time in 2010 there were minimal sightings not quite as far north as the central US, this year shows what appears to be about double the sightings as far north as southern Illinois.

This is great news for the 2012 butterfly season as the monarch population promises to be strong and numerous.  We are already looking forward to a tremendous season.  If you have not yet experienced the monarch butterfly sanctuaries contact us and make it happen!  We will be in our eleventh year in 2012 and, with a brand new itinerary and a promising butterfly population, we hope to make it our best year yet.

Milkweed, the monarch butterfly’s most sought-after plant for feeding and laying their eggs, is only just starting to sprout in our area, Ottawa, the nation’s capital.  Sprouts are just starting to get leaves, so we were not anticipating any monarchs for at least a week yet.

Finally yesterday, just south of Ottawa, we spotted our first monarchs of the season.  There was one male and one female, bright orange and quite small, indicating that they were born on the return migration of the sanctuaries in Mexico.

Our last day at the monarch sanctuaries this season was March 9^th.  Compared to only two days prior there were significantly less monarchs; it was evident that some of the colonies were starting their return voyage.  Despite apparently unseasonal weather patterns, eleven weeks have passed and their migration is coming to an end.

The monarchs we saw yesterday have never been to Mexico’s sanctuaries, nor will they migrate there this fall.  Yet, in only a few short generations they will make their way south, likely crossing into the US near Point Peele, Ontario and then into Mexico through Eagle Pass or maybe McAllen, Texas.

If you haven’t experienced this incredible natural phenomenon with us yet, don’t hesitate!  We have a number of planned tours already for the 2011 season, but they are filling up fast.  If you have a date in mind that you would like to travel, contact us for availability.

This article is translated from here.

Morelia, Mich .- Rep. Roberto Arriaga Colin (PT), notes for a review of current status of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Decree, in order to include in the forests outside the Protected Natural Area.

The current climate change would be in danger of extinction in the monarch butterfly in the next 15 years.

The proposal is based, detailing the deputy, that the current climate change would be in danger of extinction in the monarch butterfly in the next 15 years or in the best scenario would be a considerable decline of its population, according to a study by researchers at the Faculty of Biology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 2008.

He said that the migration of the monarch has been studied since 1937 by Canadian researchers at the University of Toronto and in 1975 he found the first colony on the boundaries of the State of Michoacan and Mexico. Later, in the course of 20 years has been ordered three times the area of the Biosphere Reserve.

In this respect, the legislator recalled the initial decree in 1980, which declared the area as Area Reserve and Wildlife Refuge, the second was in 1986, naming the Special Reserve of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere.

Finally, in 1997 agreed to start a process of redefining the basis for new biological investigations carried out, so that in 2000 were declared as Reserve of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere 56.256 hectares.

He noted that in order to provide accurate tracking of the new decree, in 2001 developed the program management of the reserve in order to take action to prevent environmental degradation, promote clean and sustainable production, and exploration of mechanisms to contribute to social development and combating poverty.

But he said that currently the program is headless, due to the different changes that have taken place in the biosphere, so updating is required to fulfill the expectations raised.

On the other hand, mentioned that in July 2008, the World Heritage Committee announced that the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located in Michoacán and Mexico State, was added to the list of World Natural Heritage.

However, the National Autonomous University of Mexico recognized that follow the current trends of degradation of their habitat, the butterfly will disappear by the year 2051.

In this regard, researchers at the University of Kansas suggest that to compensate for the loss of milkweeds and wild flowers from the use of herbicides in the United States and Canada, which causes the reproduction of the species is concerned, it is necessary to create, conserve and protect monarch habitat. Also propose to call on the population and authorities to save resources by eliminating unnecessary pruning and use of pesticides.

Arriaga Colin expressed his concern that the past few months represent one of the worst seasons for the area of the monarch in the state, as first cold fronts that hit the country delayed their arrival at the shrine and then the February atypical rains caused them to die million copies and is seriously affecting their habitat.

He noted that currently there are five colonies outside the Monarch Biosphere Reserve, of which two are in the entity (Cerro de San Andrés in Los Azufres and Rio de Parras in Mil Cumbres) and three in the State of Mexico.

Therefore, the legislature will propose to the House, make a call on the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Juan Rafael Elvira Quezada, so that, in coordination with federal, state and municipal, are enacted as a Reserve of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere forests where the species reaches outside the existing protected natural area.

Similarly, to be carried out cautiously review the decree of expanding the pool of 2000, as well as to update the management plan of the Biosphere, and, finally, to ask the governments of Canada and the United States carrying out conservation programs in the area of reproduction of the monarch.