Greetings, VT Butterflyers:

The link to tag recoveries in this edition of the Monarch Watch Update
(below) includes one our very own Susan Sawyer's Monarchs being recovered
in Connecticut.

Best,
Bryan

>==========================================
>
>Contents:
>
>1) New Online Community Forums
>
>2) Monarch Watch Open House
>
>3) News from Mexico
>
>4) Status of the Population
>
>5) Western Monarch Population
>
>6) 2003 Recovery Data
>
>7) Tagging and Rearing Kits
>
>8) Festival of Butterflies
>
>9) Upcoming Monarch Events
>
>10) Monarchs in New Zealand
>
>11) Eating Monarchs
>
>12) About Our Update List
>
>==========================================
>
>Unless otherwise noted, all content was authored by Chip Taylor, edited by
>Jim Lovett and Sarah Schmidt, and published by Jim Lovett. The complete
>web version of this update is available at:
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/040825.htm
>
>==========================================
>
>1) New Online Community Forums
>
>Last month we announced our new online forums/discussion boards that allow
>you to communicate with others regarding your specific interests in
>monarchs. The forums are off to a good start and thus far we have 87
>registered users from all walks of life and from several countries. If you
>are interested in following the fall migration, asking questions about
>monarchs, finding out about monarch events, collaborating with teachers,
>posting monarch sightings, sharing your own monarch experiences, and/or
>learning of the latest at Monarch Watch, you can join in by registering or
>browsing the forums at
>
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/forums/
>
>We encourage all of you to stop by to register today (it only takes a
>minute) and then check back frequently to join in and/or start discussions
>of interest to you. Help us create an active online community for Monarch
>Watchers all over the world! If you have any questions about this please
>feel free to drop us a line anytime - or post your questions in the
>appropriate forum online ;-)
>
>==========================================
>
>2) Monarch Watch Open House
>
>Saturday, 11 September 2004 9am-3pm - mark your calendars!
>
>Once again, we will be having an Open House at Monarch Watch at Foley Hall
>on West Campus of the University of Kansas. We had over 1,000 visitors to
>our first two Open House events (Fall 2003 & Spring 2004) and we expect a
>good turnout for our 11 September 2004 event as well. This event is
>designed to please children and adults alike.
>
>Unfortunately, this public event will likely be the last one for some time
>since we are being relocated to a space that is not public outreach
>"friendly". Please come and join us to celebrate monarchs and their
>magnificent fall migration.
>
>Since our last Open House we have been busy adding a wonderful butterfly
>garden next to our "Biohouse" with the help of the Douglas County Master
>Gardeners. The gardeners are currently planting a number of butterfly host
>and nectar plants, many donated by Powell Gardens, in the display area. In
>addition, there are examples of butterfly feeders and watering sites that
>could be used to improve your ability to attract butterflies to your garden.
>
>As usual, we will provide refreshments, lots of hands-on show & tell,
>iChat videoconferencing demonstrations, monarch tagging demonstrations,
>and of course monarch butterflies and caterpillars!
>
>We'd love to see you there, but realize that all of you "out of towners"
>in Canada, New Zealand, England, Australia, etc. might not be able to make
>it so we are planning to have some treats that you can check out online
>during the event. Be sure to visit us at
>
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/openhouse
>
>to see what we're doing!
>
>Again, the Monarch Watch Fall Open House will be at Foley Hall on KU's
>West Campus, Lawrence, KS on Saturday, 11 September 2004 9am-3pm. For more
>information and a map visit
>
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/openhouse
>
>==========================================
>
>3) News from Mexico
>
>Over the past several months, the Updates have contained numerous reports
>from the Mexican press of illegal logging in the Monarch Reserve. Most of
>the logging in these accounts occurred at the end of the tourist season
>(end of March) continuing into July in some areas. The extent of the
>damage to the core protected areas, particularly at Chincua has not been
>assessed. An evaluation of the damage to the forests is badly needed.
>
>As an example of the kind of illegal logging occurring in the protected
>buffer zones, Lincoln Brower has provided two photos (35mm slides, Nikon)
>taken from a small plane with the cooperation of Lighthawk, a cooperating
>group of pilots, on the 21st of January 2004. Both photos show areas near
>El Rosario, the most commonly visited monarch overwintering site.
>
>[ See the Photos at: http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/040825_brower.html ]
>
>There has been relatively little news from Mexico this past month. The
>middle of our summer is the wet season in central Mexico and the
>difficulties of moving logs out of the forests and the slick and muddy
>roads presumably reduces illegal logging during this season. We did
>receive one report from a Mexican newspaper that outlines a promising way
>of monitoring the forests with the potential to reduce illegal logging.
>Once again, Carol Cullar, Executive Director Rio Bravo Nature Center
>Foundation, Inc., Eagle Pass TX has provided us with a fine translation. ...
>
>[ Read the full text of this article at
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/040825.htm#3 ]
>
>==========================================
>
>4) Status of the Population
>
>Reports of the numbers of monarch eggs, larvae and adults from throughout
>their breeding range have not been encouraging this past month, sustaining
>the trend that has been evident throughout the breeding season.
>Nevertheless, there may be more monarchs joining the migration this fall
>than is suggested by these reports. ...
>
>My expectation is that the fall migration will be moderate to low. Low
>numbers are expected in the eastern portion of the country. However, the
>migration along a line from Minnesota to central Texas should be moderate.
>Late summer reproduction in the south, especially in Texas, could
>contribute more butterflies than normal to the migration due to
>well-distributed rainfall. Overall, the wintering population should be in
>the range of 4-6 hectares. ...
>
>[ Read the full text of this article at
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/040825.htm#4 ]
>
>==========================================
>
>5) Western Monarch Population - by Mia Monroe
>
>Western observers in Calistoga, Placerville, Yosemite, Marin and San Mateo
>are already observing monarchs on their way towards the coast. Many are
>stopping to mate, find local milkweeds. Those who have been tracking for a
>number of years feel the numbers are a bit higher than usual for mid-August.
>
>News round-up from the West ...
>
>[ Read the full text of this article at
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/040825.htm#5 ]
>
>==========================================
>
>6) 2003 Recovery Data
>
>We continue to process the recovery data for the 2003 season and we have
>updated the "work in progress" page with domestic recoveries - those tags
>recovered within the United States and Canada:
>
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/tagmig/2003_recoveries.html
>
>==========================================
>
>7) Tagging and Rearing Kits
>
>In case you missed our reminders in the last two updates, it's time to
>place your orders for Monarch Watch Tagging Kits and Rearing Kits for this
>fall season! Please submit your orders as soon as possible to ensure that
>you receive your kits in a timely manner. The tags for the 2004 season
>have arrived and we began shipping them out on August 1st, in plenty of
>time for the fall migration. Each year we run out of tags so be sure not
>to miss out!
>
>The Monarch Watch Fall 2004 Tagging Kit includes 25 tags and instructions
>for $25; additional 25-tag sheets are available for $4 each.
>
>We now have insect nets available! They have a 3-foot hardwood handle and
>a 12" diameter (28" depth) white aerial net bag - perfect for carefully
>catching monarchs. A complete description including a photo is available
>in the Monarch Watch Shop at:
>
>http://Shop.MonarchWatch.org/product.aspx?p=120003
>
>As you probably know, Monarch Rearing Kits are available for those of you
>that want to raise monarchs at home or in the classroom. Each kit contains
>14-16 young larvae and rearing instructions. Effective July 1, 2004 the
>pricing structure for Rearing Kits changed somewhat to more accurately
>reflect the costs involved - individual Rearing Kits are available for $16
>each with a shipping and handling charge of $23 for up to four kits. While
>the cost of individual kits increased slightly, new shipping methods allow
>us to send up to four kits in a single box, thereby reducing the cost of
>multiple kits considerably:
>
>1 Kit: was $34; now $39
>2 Kits: were $68; now $55
>3 Kits: were $102; now $71
>4 Kits: were $136; now $87
>
>Visit the Monarch Watch Shop at
>
>http://Shop.MonarchWatch.org
>
>or download a condensed order form at http://www.MonarchWatch.org/order
>
>==========================================
>
>8) Festival of Butterflies
>
>Over the past two weekends (Friday-Sunday, 9am-6pm) Monarch Watch
>participated in Powell Gardens' 8th Annual Festival of Butterflies. More
>than 23,000 people visited the gardens over the two weekends and we
>believe the majority also stopped by to see Monarch Watch. We provided
>lots of hands-on experience with the monarchs, held tagging
>demonstrations, and answered questions about our educational,
>conservation, and research efforts.
>
>We were so busy that we just didn't have the time to take too many photos,
>but here are a few:
>
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/040825_powell.html
>
>For more information on Powell Gardens and/or the festival visit
>
>http://www.PowellGardens.org
>
>==========================================
>
>9) Upcoming Monarch Events
>
>August and September are busy months for monarch events in the U.S. and
>Canada! For a complete up-to-date listing please visit the "Monarch
>Events" forum within our new online community forums:
>
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=20
>
>If you know of other events that are not listed there, please let us know!
>
>==========================================
>
>10) Monarchs in New Zealand
>
>The Monarch Watch web site is visited by people from many countries. The
>tracking system we utilize to monitor visitations to the site shows that,
>after Canadians, New Zealanders are the most frequent visitors to the web
>site. Most of the New Zealand visits occur during our winter months, which
>is late summer in the southern hemisphere. The visits are frequently
>followed by emails seeking advice on alternative food sources for monarchs
>since the late summer monarch larvae have eaten all or nearly all of the
>foliage from the milkweeds. I usually encourage these people to try
>pumpkin but I have yet to confirm that monarchs reach maturity on the
>fruits of these plants. ...
>
>[ Read the full text of this article at
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/040825.htm#10 ]
>
>==========================================
>
>11) Eating Monarchs
>
>This article touches on two subjects; monarchs as food and an early
>encounter by outsiders with the monarch migration in Mexico. In the United
>States, Canada and much of Europe, the consumption of insects is usually
>accidental rather than intentional. However, this is not the case in much
>of the rest of the world where insects are sought after as food items
>because of their high protein and fat content. Indeed, in Mexico,
>especially in Oaxaca, one can find a variety of insects, such as crickets
>and grasshoppers in the market and, occasionally, you can even buy ant
>larvae tacos at the airport in Mexico City. The monarch colonies became
>"officially" known to outsiders in January 1975 when Ken Brugger and his
>wife Cathy were led to one of the colonies at Cerro Pelon. This narrative
>describes an earlier encounter with masses of monarchs near the
>overwintering colonies. The text is a modification of two messages posted
>to Dplex-L in October 2001 by Michael Lastufka a long time Monarch Watch
>participant in Dallas. ...
>
>[ Read the full text of this article at
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/040825.htm#11 ]
>
>==========================================
>
>12) About Our Update List
>
>You are receiving this email because you have provided Monarch Watch with
>your email address at some point and expressed interest in receiving
>updates from us. If you do not wish to receive these periodic (probably
>monthly) email updates or feel that you were subscribed in error, please
>see the unsubscribe information at the end of this message.
>
>Have you somehow missed (or misplaced ;-) an update? Now you can find all
>of the updates archived online at
>
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update
>
>If you know someone that you think might be interested in receiving these
>email updates from Monarch Watch with monarch news, special announcements,
>tips on raising monarchs in your classroom, monarch tagging information
>and a whole lot more, please send them on over to
>
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/signup
>
>to join our new Monarch-Watch-Update email list - it's easy!
>
>Monarch Watch (http://www.MonarchWatch.org) is a not-for-profit
>educational outreach program based at the University of Kansas. We run a
>Monarch tagging program and offer Monarch Rearing Kits, Monarch Tagging
>Kits, and other educational/promotional materials that allow you to
>actively experience the monarch life cycle and its spectacular fall
>migration.If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us anytime!
>
>If you would like to be removed from this Monarch Watch Update mailing
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>
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>
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>
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>
>Thanks!
>
>Monarch Watch
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org
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