Monarchs headed East?

I saw one in Tennessee all by herself. Maybe she's taking her time. I just googled these.

The winds brought a lot more monarchs in today flying along the dunes. But they were heading East? If they are going to Mexico, wonder why they would head in that direction? Wouldn't it be easier to fly towards Texas gulf? Did they hear about the new airport or are they confused and going to Mexico Beach instead?

You so funny!!!!!!

You are so funny!!! :funn:I bet it was going to Mexico Beach.

I am serious though. I found a web site that tracks the monarchs, but it still doesn't answer my question why every year I see them flying East.

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/AboutFall.html

SJ, I need your help here.

I see the same thing. I've decided they don't migrate like geese - i.e. get up in the morning and all fly in the same direction. It must be less a migration than a gradual moving of where they are living at the time. So on any given day, they could fly east, west, or just stay put.

I see the same thing. I've decided they don't migrate like geese - i.e. get up in the morning and all fly in the same direction. It must be less a migration than a gradual moving of where they are living at the time. So on any given day, they could fly east, west, or just stay put.

Interesting theory. I know all monarchs do not migrate, but didn't know that at night they find a roosting spot where they cluster.
I did read that some Monarchs migrate to Cuba and the Caribbean also which I didn't know.

Still doesn't explain the mass flocking of monarchs headed East I have seen though. I have yet to see them go West, that is when I am at the beach along the dunes.

I don't know a thing about Monarch migration, but I always wonder :scratch:... if we knew how to read all the signs from nature, could we better predict upcoming weather conditions / events?

The winds brought a lot more monarchs in today flying along the dunes. But they were heading East? If they are going to Mexico, wonder why they would head in that direction? Wouldn't it be easier to fly towards Texas gulf? Did they hear about the new airport or are they confused and going to Mexico Beach instead?

This thread reminds me of one of my favorite parts in a "Peanuts" movie:

Lucy: Well, look here. A big yellow butterfly. It's unusual to see one of those at THIS time of year, unless of course, it flew up from Brazil. I'll bet that's it. They DO that sometimes, you know. They fly up from Brazil.

Linus: That's no butterfly! That's a potato chip.

Lucy: Well, I'll be. I wonder how a potato chip got all the way up here from Brazil!

:funn:

.

Interesting theory. I know all monarchs do not migrate, but didn't know that at night they find a roosting spot where they cluster.
I did read that some Monarchs migrate to Cuba and the Caribbean also which I didn't know.

Still doesn't explain the mass flocking of monarchs headed East I have seen though. I have yet to see them go West, that is when I am at the beach along the dunes.

So Mango...

I sat on my porch yesterday morning for a couple of hours. There's a tree in the yard that attracts Monarchs, so I probably saw two or three dozen of them. They were all flying east.

This thread reminds me of one of my favorite parts in a "Peanuts" movie:

Lucy: Well, look here. A big yellow butterfly. It's unusual to see one of those at THIS time of year, unless of course, it flew up from Brazil. I'll bet that's it. They DO that sometimes, you know. They fly up from Brazil.

Linus: That's no butterfly! That's a potato chip.

Lucy: Well, I'll be. I wonder how a potato chip got all the way up here from Brazil!

:funn:

.

Try not to have a good time . . . This is supposed to be educational.
Peanuts
Lucy Van Pelt

So Mango...

I sat on my porch yesterday morning for a couple of hours. There's a tree in the yard that attracts Monarchs, so I probably saw two or three dozen of them. They were all flying east.

I knew it. I am only a little crazy.

and the dolphins were headed west.

Have a look at this:

http://www.monarchwatch.org/tagmig/fallmap.htm

It looks like there is also a winter roost somewhere in south FL. Maybe the population passing through here is headed that way instead of the usual Mexico.

My daughter (who is 12) and I were in Port St Joe last weekend. We spent several hours at the State Park on Cape San Blas. There were Monarchs everywhere we turned. Lots of dragon flies also (and a few biting flies - ouch!). My daughter was wearing brightly colored shirt and shorts, which must have attracted the Monarchs because they were landing all over her and following her on our walk down the beach. I've never seen anything like it, and we enjoyed the day very much.

We left St. Joe on Monday AM and drove over to Seaside for lunch before returning to Atlanta ... a worthwhile detour and a nice way to enjoy some special Mother/Daughter time.

I haven't had a chance to read much about the migration of Monarchs, but the subject is on my list to learn about. My best guess as to why they are heading east is that they follow the land on their way to Mexico. By flying over land, they will be flying much farther distances, but they are able to rest and refuel at any point along the way. Also, they would be more likely to avoid a storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, thereby increasing their chances for survival. Again, this is just my guess.

I haven't had a chance to read much about the migration of Monarchs, but the subject is on my list to learn about. My best guess as to why they are heading east is that they follow the land on their way to Mexico. By flying over land, they will be flying much farther distances, but they are able to rest and refuel at any point along the way. Also, they would be more likely to avoid a storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, thereby increasing their chances for survival. Again, this is just my guess.

Mango, you called that one.

SJ, you got some catching up to do. We miss your encyclopedic knowledge when you're not posting a hundred times a day.

From a quick google>>> www.learner.org:


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]




[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Texas is the only state all monarchs must cross, and the first big masses of Mexico-bound monarchs have now reached the state. Tens, dozens, hundreds ? even thousands ? of monarchs are filling the skies, trees and fields across the northern half of the state. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Reports are flying in as I write ? and from Oklahoma and Arkansas, too, as monarchs there funnel toward Texas on their way to Mexico. The flood gate opened after the cold front passed on Monday, October 8th. Strong south winds are predicted for much of Texas this weekend so the monarchs should drop down and wait out the wind. The stage is set for the perfect monarch-watching weekend! [/FONT]

I love them and I collided with too many this weekend....

Check the link in my post #13. I had previously thought that, other than the CA roost, that all the North American monarchs wintered in Mexico. The map I linked seems to show a roost in south FL.

The map I linked seems to show a roost in south FL.

Interesting, TreeFrog.
All the monarchs I'm seeing here (northeast FL) are heading in a southeast direction, and the ones I used to see in Port St Joe did look as though they were heading east; I'd even see them flying over the Gulf on the Apalachicola bridge. I always just assumed they were sort of meandering but that they knew where they were going.

Interesting, TreeFrog.
All the monarchs I'm seeing here (northeast FL) are heading in a southeast direction, and the ones I used to see in Port St Joe did look as though they were heading east; I'd even see them flying over the Gulf on the Apalachicola bridge. I always just assumed they were sort of meandering but that they knew where they were going.

It's grayt to hear from you Cil...I miss your post from PSJ! Didn't mean to hijack!!Hope all is well on Amelia Island.

All is well and I love the monarchs drifting across our island.
There are some things I miss about the Gulf, but we gotta do what we gotta do.

I did some reading about Monarchs, and apparently there are 3 different species. I also found a pdf research article that was 132 pages (didn't have time to read it and lost it in my favorites) long which discussed wing spans and migration to the Caribbean and Cuba.

My guess is that some of the monarchs are over wintering in Florida near the Keys. like Treefrogs hypothesis.

I did see a few headed West and they were much larger than the big migration I saw along the dunes headed East.

Here are some interesting links:

http://www.livemonarch.com/monarch-facts.htm

University of Florida

Monarch Watch - A Collection of Resources.


I am tempted to e-mail one of these organizations and ask why we see so many going East, what they are doing etc.
Inquiring minds want to know.

I have become a Monarch papparazzi.

I read they will stay along the food souces during migration, so it only makes sense that they would go West and fly into Mexico through Texas in lieu of crossing the Gulf from the tip of Florida. Besides, all the migration charts show them Headed South and Westerly.

if anyone has finds out more info, let us know.

I screwed up my compass and confused east and west during my last post regarding the reasons why the Monarchs have been seen moving east. OOPS! You guys continue....

I screwed up my compass and confused east and west during my last post regarding the reasons why the Monarchs have been seen moving east. OOPS! You guys continue....

Which direction is that Monarch, I mean pumpkin butt going in your tar?