A cold front had moved through the region on Saturday night, and the cool fall-like air sent many monarchs on their way. People can contribute important observations by going with an open mind and documenting what they see. We know they fatten up as they fly southward, so nectar is important. At a Minnesota prairie with Dr. Brower, we saw a very fresh monarch whose left forewing was torn off at the tip. He suspected the butterfly had been hit by a car.
Cars are a significant cause of monarch mortality during migration.
Sad but true, counting the number of dead butterflies along the roadside when you travel is one way to measure the pace of migration. You may include the number road-killed butterflies per mile when reporting migration sightings. Don't forget this postmark deadline. In the body of EACH message, answer ONE of the questions above. Copyright 1999 Journey North.