By:  Marikay Shellman, BPW Colorado Virtual Chair
NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

Many of us are feeling overwhelmed by the immense weight of news about Climate Change. To add a lift to our spirits, I thought I’d write about the amazing annual journey of the Monarch butterflies. Between August & October, North American monarchs migrate south. Most monarchs who spent summer months west of the Rocky Mountains migrate to California coastal areas while those monarchs who breed in the east migrate to Mexico.

• Coasting on air currents these migrating monarchs can travel up to 100 miles in one day, a total of 2500 to 3000 miles to reach their winter sites. We can’t see these migration patterns from the ground as they often fly at elevations of 800 t0 1200 feet high.

• Scientists theorize that monarchs must use cues like sunlight & magnetism to navigate directionally, because none of these fall migrating monarchs have ever been to their destination before. When they head north in the spring, they will breed & die.

• While a monarch’s lifespan is 2 to 6 weeks, a migrating monarch’s lifespan is 9 months. This lifespan is spent migrating south, clustering in large groups to survive the winter, migrating north, and breeding in the spring.

• Some species of monarchs don’t migrate, such as those monarchs living in southern Florida. Scientists are

still studying- is because of the milder winters or genetics or both.

• Much of the data about migrating monarchs is from community scientists who have been tracking, counting and photographing monarchs for decades. Anyone can be involved. Contact Xerces Society to be a community scientist to help with research of these beautiful animals.

Remember to LEAVE the LEAVES!

Most insects & invertebrates spend their winter right where they spent all summer. They rely on fallen leaves and other organic debris to cover and insulate them from the winter weather. Before you rake or blow those leaves, remember these are resources for nests and overwintering habitat.