Every fall, a magical event takes place in the animal world. Perhaps traveling over your own head right now--or clustered by the hundreds in a nearby tree--the annual monarch butterfly migration to Mexico is underway. By instinct alone, the butterflies go to the same mountains that their ancestors left the previous spring. Somehow, they find a place in Mexico that they've never seen before.
The butterflies are born knowing everything they need to survive, so we look on with wonder . . .
-- Journey North: Monarch Butterfly
A few years ago I subscribed to two newsletter events (best description my tired brain can conjure tonight) that I now look forward to each year. They are a part of Journey North, a teaching tool that I can attest is not only exciting for teachers and students involved in the projects. Through this organization you can track the monarch butterfly migration each fall and spring as the butterflies travel to and from Mexico. Additionally, online participants can report their own observations of migrating butterflies to a migration map at the website.
It's almost time to follow the Monarch Butterfly migration south along with countless classrooms across the country, and I am anxious for the journey. This is a part of the welcome posted for new participants at Journey North: Monarch Butterfly --
Welcome and Orientation
Beginning August 28th, weekly FALL MIGRATION UPDATES will be posted here every Thursday, from September to November. (Schedule given at website.) Get ready to track the migration to Mexico. Find out how to report your sightings and track the migration on real-time migration maps.
In my next post I'll describe the other event that sets my imagination soaring.
Beginning Monday and for an unknown number of days our old house built in 1917 (we call it Housie) will be getting all new energy-efficient windows. I'm not a morning person, but I have to be the next few days as the installers will be here early. The project is welcome chaos for me, and I'm not polling the cats and dogs for their opinion. This may affect my blogging schedule, but I'm hoping not by much.
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The paired butterflies are already yellow with August
Over the grass in the West garden;
They hurt me. I grow older.
~ Li Po
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Over the grass in the West garden;
They hurt me. I grow older.
~ Li Po
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Photos: paid subscription www.clipart.com
