Migration is beginning

Much of the information that I am going to post today comes from a website called "Journey North"  that tracks the migration of Monarchs, hummingbirds, Whooping Cranes as they begin to Migrate for the season.  It is from this information that I can say with confidence that the butterflies that are hatching from now on are the ones that will migrate to Mexico until spring.  The numbers that survive their migration will have a direct correlation on the numbers that will return next year....assuming they remain safe and healthy upon arrival in Mexico.
Monarchs that emerge from Chrysalis at this time of year are unique.  i.e. "Super Monarchs"  their focus is on nectaring, and storing up fat for their long journey.  They emerge in a state called Diapause, which means they are fully developed, but not mature reproductively.  The same hormone that causes the state of diapause, also enables the Monarch to survive for 8 Months, instead of 2-6 weeks.  It's believed that changes in temperature, and light signal this change in the late season hatchlings.  I have noticed that we have had an unusually cool and wet August here in Minnesota, and the egg laying and caterpillar numbers have rapidly declined.  I am also noticing that the butterflies stay in a Chrysalis state longer in August than June and July.
I am excited that year to date I have released 35 butterflies, and am looking for about that many more to send to Mexico!  I have ordered tags from MonarchWatch.org so I can tag my butterflies that I will be releasing in the coming month.  These tiny tags get reported on a website printed on the tag if the butterfly is found in Mexico.  I do not expect the butterflies to return in the spring.  This is a piece of the migration that seems to confuse most people.  I say again, the butterflies that I release this Month, and next will fly to Mexico.  If they survive the journey down, they will overwinter in huge trees in the mountains of Mexico then in early March they begin to journey back north.  Those butterflies only make it about as far as Texas then they lay their eggs and die.  So they butterflies that return to the north next season are the great great grandchildren of those that migrate this fall.  It boggles my mind that these tiny creatures have the ability to do that.  Flying 50 or more miles everyday, and arriving in southern Mexico around Halloween.
So to you that follow this blog, and have taken the leap and begun to raise your own butterflies this season the Monarchs are better off because of you.  If you release 5 butterflies, chances are those are at least 4 more than would have survived in the wild, and if enough of us do that it has to make a difference!!  Keep up the good work.  Save the MONARCH!