Greetings Monarch Watchers!
Just a quick note to let you know what's been going on at Monarch
Watch (from a honeybee swarm at our front door to a big monarch tag
recovery update) and what coming up (primarily our annual Spring Open
House & Plant Fundraiser) - we hope to see many of you here at
Monarch Watch HQ this weekend! :-)
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Spring Open House & Plant Fundraiser
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Saturday, 7 May 2011 - 8a to 3p
Monarch Watch, Lawrence, KS (will be broadcast online as well)
Tired of the cool spring? Ready to start a butterfly garden or
improve the one you have? If so, come visit us at the Monarch Watch
Spring Open House & Plant Fundraiser on Saturday, 7 May 2011.
We will have nearly 4,000 butterfly plants (both annuals and
perennials), including seedlings of nine milkweed varieties. These
plants are ideal for starting butterfly gardens or adding to
established gardens. Monarch numbers have been declining and we need
to plant milkweeds to sustain the monarch migration. Modest
contributions are suggested for the plants. A list of available
plants has been posted on the Open House page (link below).
Refreshments will be provided. There will be games for the children
and they can make "seed balls" containing seeds of milkweeds and
other butterfly plants that can be used to create habits for monarchs
and other butterflies. They can also watch the queen bee lay eggs in
our honeybee observation hive, see scary insects and spiders, or
watch videos. All are welcome to tour our garden and lab space. We
will have live videoconferencing demonstrations, and, of course,
monarch butterflies! You all know that the chrysalis of the monarch
is green, right? How about pink? Yes, pink. We have some that are
pink and some caterpillars that are black instead of striped. Come
and see these interesting monarch mutations.
You can also see the monarchs that traveled 40 million miles space
shuttles and the International Space Station during the "Monarchs In
Space Program." How did the monarch caterpillars do in the
microgravity of space? Did they feed? Were they able to "hang up" to
form a chrysalis, and were they able to emerge and expand their wings
in an environment in which there is no up or down? Come to Monarch
Watch to learn more about this unique educational project.
We'd love to see you here in person or online so mark your calendars!
Photos, live broadcasts, a plant list, and other details at:
http://monarchwatch.org/openhouse
For more information on Monarch Conservation, please visit
http://monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/ and
http://monarchwatch.org/waystations/
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Tag Recovery Update
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Nearly 4,000 records have been added to the Monarch Watch Tag
Recovery database, bringing the total number of records to more than
15,000 for the 1992-2010 monarch tagging seasons.
Approximately 2,500 records represent monarchs observed/recovered in
the U.S. or Canada and more than 12,500 records represent monarchs
recovered at the overwintering sites in Mexico.
Anyone may search the database via http://monarchwatch.org/recoveries
Please note that this is very much a work in progress - we working on
acquiring the funding necessary to "scrub" the data (clean up any
errors) and create more robust applications for searching and data
visualization. Also, you will likely notice records with missing data
- this is often due to taggers not returning their datasheets at the
end of the tagging season. We are in the process of tracking down the
missing data and will update the database as we recover the
information.
If you would like to help fund this project, please see our Donation
page at http://monarchwatch.org/donate for details about ways to give.
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2011 Season Tagging Kits
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If you would like to participate in the 2011 monarch tagging season
this fall, be sure to order your tags soon! As many of you know, we
have a limited number of tags created each year and we usually run
out before the end of the migration season. Tags are available on a
first-come first-serve basis and we will begin shipping kits out by
the 1st of August - ahead of the migration in your area (to determine
approximate timing please see
http://monarchwatch.org/tagmig/peak.html).
Monarch Tagging Kits are available via the Monarch Watch Shop at
http://shop.monarchwatch.org/category.aspx?c=tagging_kits
Remember, each purchase helps support Monarch Watch - thank you for
your interest and support!
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Monarch Population Status
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Monarchs arrived in our area (38.97N) in good numbers on the 10th of
April with egg laying noted from the 10th through the 15th with some
additional eggs on the 18th and later. Chip has been monitoring the
reports of returning monarchs quite closely this spring. The pattern
of the return this year is similar to that seen in 2006 but more
exaggerated, with more monarchs moving into the mid latitudes
(35-42N) than in any previous April.
For a complete status update please see our recent article at
http://monarchwatch.org/blog/2011/04/monarch-population-status-10/
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Bring Back The Monarchs
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In an effort to restore habitats for monarchs, pollinators, and other
wildlife, Monarch Watch is initiating a nationwide landscape
restoration program called "Bring Back The Monarchs." The goals of
this program are to restore 20 milkweed species, used by monarch
caterpillars as food, to their native ranges throughout the United
States and to encourage the planting of nectar-producing native
flowers that support adult monarchs and other pollinators.
http://BringBackTheMonarchs.org
Many have asked about posters and tshirts featuring the "Bring Back
The Monarchs" graphic - these items are available via the Monarch
Watch Shop at
http://shop.monarchwatch.org/category.aspx?c=mw_posters
and
http://shop.monarchwatch.org/category.aspx?c=mw_clothing
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New Seed Kits Available
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"Monarch Waystations" are places that provide resources necessary for
monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their
migration. Without milkweeds throughout their spring and summer
breeding areas in North America, monarchs would not be able to
produce the successive generations that culminate in the migration
each fall. Similarly, without nectar from flowers these fall
migratory monarch butterflies would be unable to make their long
journey to overwintering grounds in Mexico. The need for host plants
for larvae and energy sources for adults applies to all monarch and
butterfly populations around the world.
In support of our Monarch Waystation Program, we offer two seed kits
to help you establish a suitable monarch habitat at home, work, or
school: a Milkweed Seed Kit and a Monarch Waystation Seed Kit. Both
kits are available online via the Monarch Watch Shop at
http://shop.monarchwatch.org/category.aspx?c=mw_gardening
To learn more about our Monarch Waystation conservation initiative
encouraging people to create, conserve, and protect monarch habitats
please visit
http://monarchwatch.org/waystations
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Monarch Migration Map
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Last year we announced the creation of a new two-way monarch
migration map and that a poster based on this map for display in
classrooms, nature centers, at events, etc. would be forthcoming.
This poster is now available via the Monarch Watch Shop at
http://shop.monarchwatch.org/category.aspx?c=mw_posters
For more information about this map please see
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Monarch Caterpillar Dorsal Aorta
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Recently Chip noticed an unusual larva, a fourth instar of a "black"
larval mutation we are studying. This particular larva was lighter
than most and we could see the blood coursing through the dorsal
aorta. We grabbed the video camera and took advantage of this unique
educational opportunity. The result was a 2-minute video with a
voice-over by Monarch Watch Director Chip Taylor, describing the
circulatory system of monarch caterpillars.
You can view the short video via our blog at
http://monarchwatch.org/blog/2011/03/monarch-caterpillar-dorsal-aorta-video/
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Our Amazon Earnings
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As you may already know, you can help support Monarch Watch with each
purchase at Amazon.com and Endless.com (Amazon's specialized Shoe and
Handbag store). Monarch Watch earns a small referral fee equal to
4-15% of the item total when you use the links available on our site
to visit these online stores.
In the first quarter of 2011, 336 items were ordered in support of
Monarch Watch ($548.30 earned). Thank You!
Complete details available at http://monarchwatch.org/amazon/
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Honeybee Swarm Video
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A swarm of several thousand honeybees settled in a tree outside of
Monarch Watch HQ recently. We jumped at the chance to get out of the
office and took a little video as we captured the swarm and gave it a
new home.
Read more about it and see photos and video at
http://monarchwatch.org/blog/2011/04/capturing-a-honeybee-swarm-video/
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Monarch Watch Facebook Page
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We now have more than 5,000 Facebook users that "Like" our page and
keep tabs on what's happening at Monarch Watch via
http://facebook.com/monarchwatch
This has become a great way for us to quickly publish photos and news
items - and also to hear from other Monarch Watchers around the globe
that choose to share their experiences.
We realize that some of you have never used Facebook or even have any
desire to - but don't worry, you do not need to create a Facebook
account to view our page. It is publicly available to anyone that
wants to stop by and see what is going on - a Facebook account is
only required if you want to post a comment, photo, etc. yourself or
automatically receive notifications of new content being posted on
our page.
Check it out!
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About This Monarch Watch List
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Monarch Watch (http://monarchwatch.org) is a nonprofit educational
outreach program based at the University of Kansas that focuses on
the monarch butterfly, its habitat, and its spectacular fall
migration.
We rely on private contributions to support the program and we need
your help! Please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Complete
details are available at http://monarchwatch.org/donate or you can
simply call 800-444-4201 (KU Endowment Association) for more
information about giving to Monarch Watch.
If you have any questions about this email or any of our programs
please feel free to contact us anytime.
Thank you for your continued interest and support!
Monarch Watch
http://monarchwatch.org
monarch@ku.edu
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