July 29th to August 5th are the dates to join the Monarch Monitoring Blitz! Eastern and Western monarch populations have declined at the overwintering sites but it is difficult to determine the breeding population across North America. This "shout out" for Citizen Scientists in the United States, Canada and Mexico data reports may help fill the gaps in understanding. "With enough reports, your information will provide a snapshot that helps scientists understand the range and population size of late summer breeding monarchs across North America."
Monarch Migration
Each fall the monarch butterfly travels thousands of miles to spend the winter in the forests on 12 mountaintops in central Mexico. The monarch migration is the most spectacular two-way migration carried out by an insect.
The forests provide unique microclimatic conditions that allow monarchs to survive the winter. Forest degradation is putting this amazing migration in peril.
Click on the graph to enlarge and on this link to read how the numbers were obtained.
What We Do
The Monarch Butterfly Fund is meeting the challenge of preserving monarch butterflies and their spectacular migration through our conservation strategy that fosters healthy ecosystems and sustainable communities through Partnerships, Forest Conservation, Scientific Research and Monitoring, Education and Outreach, and Sustainable Development.