Monarch butterflies are arriving in Northern Mexico and should arrive soon at their ancestral roosts in the mountains of Michoacan. A cold front in Texas should give them a boost as they ride the wind wave. Winds are forecast for 30 miles per hour.
Famed Monarch butterfly scientist Dr. Lincoln Brower treks to Texas to gather butterflies for a study looking at the impact of the Texas drought on the Monarch butterfly migration. We were there on the Llano River, ready with our nets to help collect specimens.
Monarch butterfly migration update: they're here! Massing in West Texas and nectaring along the Llano River in the Texas Hill Country. Who would imagine they would gravitate to the most parched part of the State? Peak migration is upon us, so keep your eyes open for them.
Is there an app for that? Track the Monarch butterfly migration in real time by using Twitter search. Here's how to do it.
Monarch Watch founder Dr. Chip Taylor calls Texas "hell" for migrating Monarch butterflies on their way to Mexico. Historic drought has dried up rivers, streams and made nectar sources, the butterflies' fuel, scarce. Taylor provides a population status report and some tips for how Texas butterfly fans can help.
The drought continues, but recent rains in the Texas Hill Country resuscitate Llano River blooms, resulting in welcoming nectar stops for migrating Monarch butterflies. The timing might be just right for a robust Monarch butterfly migration.
Tracking the Monarch butterfly migration? Social media can help. Check out these online resources for staying on top of how the migration is progressing.
A Monarch walk, a caterpillar crawl, storytime, butterfly plant tour and gardening tips--it's all at the San Antonio Botanical Garden's opening weekend celebration of Amazing Butterflies. Come join me and other butterfly ambassadors and find your way through the Nature maze to learn the whole life cycle.
First-of-season Monarch butterflies sighted on the Llano River in the Texas Hill Country. With little nectar, drought ravaged roosts, and wildfires across the landscape, Monarchs will find a less-than-welcoming rest stop when they hit Central and South Texas in October.
What's in store for Texas' Monarch butterfly migration this year? The outlook is grim, with drought, fires, and herbicide tolerant crops making for a challenging season and lower numbers. Still, Monarchs MUST fly through Texas to get to Mexico. Which route will they choose--Hill Country or the Coast?