>Monarch Watch Update - March 31, 2006
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org
>[log in to unmask]
>
>==========================================
>
>Contents:
>
>1) Status of the Population
>
>2) Tag Recoveries
>
>3) Convergence of Monarch Experts and Filmmakers
>
>4) Monarch Waystation #500
>
>5) Monarchs in Peru
>
>6) Spring Open House & Plant Fundraiser
>
>7) Monarch Watch Shop
>
>8) Monarch Watch Job Opportunity
>
>9) About Monarch Watch
>
>==========================================
>
>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/2006/0331.html
>
>==========================================
>
>1) Status of the Population
>
>These updates are full of subjective opinions and this one is no
>exception. Last year on the trip to Mexico in mid March, I had the
>opportunity to watch the monarchs that were streaming north from the
>overwintering sites. I was disappointed by the weak flight and what
>appeared to be the poor condition of the butterflies. I couldn't
>imagine how this torn and tattered population could reach the states
>and reproduce and increase the population from the all time low of
>2.19 hectares measured for the winter of 2004-2005 - but they did. I
>underestimated the capacity of the monarchs to survive and reproduce
>once again. ...
>
>[ Read the full text of this article at
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0331.html#1 ]
>
>==========================================
>
>2) Tag Recoveries
>
>Sarah Schmidt has been assembling the data from the recovered tags,
>a much easier process now that all the records from the datasheets
>have been entered into a database. Most of the recoveries from
>Mexico will be posted during the first weekend in April and all of
>the recoveries will be posted by the end of April. ...
>
>[ Read the full text of this article at
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0331.html#2 ]
>
>==========================================
>
>3) Convergence of Monarch Experts and Filmmakers
>
>Although I've run into Bill Calvert and his tour groups on many of
>my trips to Mexico - and I did this year as well - I'm more likely
>to encounter other monarch experts at meetings rather than in
>Mexico. So, it was quite extraordinary to meet up with a number of
>monarch experts, including some I hadn't met before, on my recent
>trip to Mexico. ... When monarch folks get together, the talk tends
>to focus on monarch lore and what we know and don't know about these
>butterflies. One of the topics that arose during this discussion was
>the geographic composition of the monarch colonies. ...
>
>[ Read the full text of this article at
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0331.html#3 ]
>
>==========================================
>
>4) Monarch Waystation #500
>
>Congratulations go out to Tom Murphy of Cannon Falls, MN who
>recently applied for certification of his milkweed/monarch habitat
>and is now the proud caretaker of Monarch Waystation #500. ... We
>are a long way from our goal of 10,000 Monarch Waystations in the
>first three years of the program (started almost one year ago) but
>we hope to pick up steam this year and see a dramatic increase in
>the number of milkweed/monarch habitats created all over North
>America, and around the world. ...
>
>[ Read the full text of this article at
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0331.html#4 ]
>
>==========================================
>
>5) Monarchs in Peru
>
>Each month at Monarch Watch brings something new. This month was
>eventful for a number of reasons, among which was the arrival of an
>email from Cristina Loayza, a teacher at the Leonardo Da Vinci
>school in Lima, Peru. In her email, Cristina described a monarch
>breeding program being used in the school to introduce students to
>science. This program is a "wow!" for two reasons: it is the only
>school program that I know of that uses monarchs to educate students
>outside of North America and, by being in Lima, Peru, the location
>is close to the known southern limit of monarchs in western South America. ...
>
>[ Read the full text of this article at
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0331.html#5 ]
>
>==========================================
>
>6) Monarch Watch Spring Open House and Plant Fundraiser
>
>You are cordially invited to join us on Saturday, May 13th 8am-3pm
>for an Open House and Plant Fundraiser at our facilities on West
>Campus at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. We are located in
>Foley Hall (2021 Constant Avenue) near the greenhouse. Nearly 4,000
>butterfly plants (both annuals and perennials) including seedlings
>of seven milkweed species, will be available (modest contributions
>are suggested). We will provide refreshments, lots of show & tell,
>videos and games for children, iChat videoconferencing
>demonstrations, and, of course, monarch butterflies!
>
>We hope to see you there, but if you can't make it to Lawrence we'll
>have "live" photos and maybe a webcam or two for you to check out
>online during the day - for more information and a map visit
>
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/openhouse/
>
>==========================================
>
>7) Monarch Watch Shop
>
>We're currently running a "secret sale" - well I guess it's not much
>of a secret anymore ;-) - that includes 30% off most of our
>t-shirts. To see all of the items on sale right now visit
>
>http://shop.monarchwatch.org/category.aspx?c=sale_items
>
>We are in the middle of a big revision of our online storefront,
>loading it up with items we think you'll like (in addition to all of
>our "traditional items" - tagging kits, rearing kits, etc.), and
>making it easier to find the items you want. If you have any
>comments or suggestions for improvement please feel free to drop us
>a line at [log in to unmask] anytime - we'd love to hear from you.
>
>Remember, every purchase from the Monarch Watch Shop supports our
>educational, conservation and research programs so be sure to keep
>us in mind when you're doing a little shopping:
>
>http://shop.monarchwatch.org/
>
>Thank you for your continued support!
>
>==========================================
>
>8) Monarch Watch Job Opportunity
>
>Monarch Watch is losing one of its two Program Assistants this
>summer so we are now in the process of searching for a replacement
>to take over this full-time position. If you're interested in
>applying, or know someone that might be, please see the complete job
>posting available at
>
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/jobs
>
>All applications must be submitted online. Application
>deadline/initial review date is April 17, 2006.
>
>==========================================
>
>9) About Monarch Watch
>
>Monarch Watch (http://www.MonarchWatch.org) is a not-for-profit
>educational outreach program based at the University of Kansas. We
>manage several educational, conservation and research programs -
>focusing on the monarch butterfly, its habitat and the spectacular
>fall monarch migration.
>
>Previous updates are available online at
>
>http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update
>
>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://www.MonarchWatch.org
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