Welcome...Spring's
Journey North is Underway!
February - June,
2010
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"Journey North News" updates are the core of Journey North. They are published on this Web site and by e-mail. These updates include the latest migration maps and data, and they summarize news about the migrations and seasonal events we are tracking. The calendar is different for each species and seasonal event. Check it out!
Quick links to each news story are listed below...
After extreme rainfall in central Mexico, a disastrous flood struck the mountain town of Angangueo, Michoacan. This little town—which is located at the center of the monarch butterfly overwintering region—sustained extensive material damage and even human loss. Please watch for further news about how to send disaster relief to our friends in Angangueo and the surrounding communities.
Welcome to Journey North's global game of hide-and-seek. Somewhere under the sun there are ten Mystery Classes waiting to be found. Can you uncover their secret locations? Start with today's video greeting, then see what the first set of sunrise/sunset data reveals.
Welcome to the Tulip Test Garden experiment! Somewhere across the vast continent tulips have emerged. Why are some tulips emerging while others are not? What does climate have to do with it? Start an investigation by looking at the factors related to climate and plant growth. Take a virtual garden tour this week and learn what others are doing in their gardens and classrooms..
Welcome to Journey North's 17th season! Three months ago, the first monarchs reached their winter home in Mexico after a long, fall migration. How many monarchs made it to Mexico — and how are the butterflies doing? This week, explore the population data scientists have just collected. Find out how scientists measure the size of the monarch population and what the data means for conservation. Photo: Dr. Lincoln Brower, Sweet Briar College
Gray
Whale Migration Update: February 3, 2010
For whale watchers it's time for the greatest show on Earth! Pacific gray
whales are swimming south AND north along the Pacific coast. Among those
still headed for Mexico were 17 new babies. Click through today's slideshows
to see why gray whales rule when it comes to amazing animal migrations.
Welcome to the 2010 season! Photo Adrienne Deliso
Hummingbird
Migration Update: February 3, 2010
Welcome to Journey North's 17th season! Meet and get to know our hummingbirds.
We will be tracking the spring migration of the ruby-throated and rufous
hummingbirds on their journey north this spring. Why do they come back
north? Explore this question in this week's Update and slideshow.
Robin
Migration Update: February 2, 2010
Welcome
to Journey North's 17th season! Join citizen scientists across North America
as we track the robin's spring migration. Learn how to watch for robins
and how to listen for their first song. What do robins do in the wintertime?
There's a lot to learn from the observations people reported in January!
Also check out the photo: How is this robin staying warm in a snowstorm?
Are you packed and ready to start Journey North's global game of hide and seek? Take your first step on Monday by recording your local sunrise/sunset times. Find all the information you need to begin your quest for the ten secret sites in today's reminder. Bon voyage!
Are YOU ready to track spring's journey north? Thousands of students are watching and waiting for the migrations to begin. Keep your eyes and ears open and follow along on spring's adventures with Journey North! Send us your sightings. This winter learn about bears and watch a hibernating momma with her new born cub through a web camera at the North American Bear Center. Photo: Dave Mansell
Whoopee! The Class of 2009’s final flight with an ultralight took place January 290 when the “Chass Ten” were delivered to their winter release pen at Florida’s’ Chassahowitzka NWR. The second-longest migration in the project’s nine-year history is complete, and what a story it was! Photos and facts, audio and video clips, comments and questions bring the final week’s exciting news.
Photo: Heather Ray, Operation Migration
This year over 400 Journey North classrooms sent contributions of $7,573 to support the projects and initiatives that will protect the monarchs’ winter habitat. Learn about the Monarch Butterfly Fund - who they are and what kinds of projects they are supporting with your help. Then view the MBF Contributors List for 2009!
Search and find your butterflies using our search engine. Then, follow along with Estela and Melita on their wide spread travels to the schools in the Monarch Sanctuary area. As they distribute your butterflies the students learn about the monarch life cycle. With their camera in hand, Estela and Melita capture the excitement of the students as they receive your symbols of goodwill.
This final Countdown to Mystery Class is designed to prepare you for a special set of clues called the "Longitude Clues" which you'll receive in late March, just before the spring equinox. See Teacher Practice Packet #2: Discovering Longitude Clues. Also included, see an introductory activity for introducing students to Mystery Class. Build suspense and assess students' background knowledge about key words and concepts using the word cards and diagrams provided.
It's about as cold as it will get this winter (on most parts of the continent). Grab your journal and head outside to observe and record. Your bulbs are settled seven inches underground. What's going on under there? If you have early emergence be sure to report it, and if you expect winter to return, mulch the garden to protect tulips from damage. Check out our slideshow showing all kinds of weather maps.
Thousands of hand-made paper butterflies are being distributed to school children in the sanctuary area of Mexico. These along with the real butterflies will stay in Mexico until spring when the migration north begins again. Read Estela's Travel Log and meet her helper, Melita. The total number of butterflies this year? 56,598! Find your name on the passenger list.
The deepest, darkest part of winter is approaching, but 336 Journey North gardens are safely tucked into the ground and ready for spring. What's the climate like in these different places, and how will climate affect growth in the gardens? Investigate the factors that affect climate and plant growth. Try the Global Climate Challenge!
Photos: Wikipedia
How does sunrise/sunset data reveal clues about the latitude of the Mystery Class locations? Teacher's Practice Packet #1 will help you discover for yourself the relationships between latitude, sunlight, and seasonal change. Also this month, to help prepare students for Mystery Class, try looking at a globe in a new way by asking: What can a globe tell us about time and seasons on Earth?
Thousands of hand-made paper butterflies are being distributed to school children in the sanctuary area of Mexico. These along with the real butterflies will stay in Mexico until spring when the migration north begins again. Read Estela's Travel Log and meet her helper, Melita. The total number of butterflies this year? 56,598! Find your name on the passenger list.
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