This Week's Update Includes:

• News: A Trip to the Sanctuary
• Slideshow: The Monarch's Winter Sanctuary
• The Migration: Maps and Journal
  
  

"Come with me to visit the largest monarch sanctuary in the world, called El Rosario. The monarch season is at its peak and a trip to see the butterflies is a special treat."

As you travel with Estela, look for examples of ecotourism. How many can you find?

Dressed for the Cold
With morning temperatures only 36°F, Estela describes how she prepared for the trip.

"Since it's often cold in our town—and even colder in the mountains— I'm wearing double socks, boots, a thermic suit, trousers, cotton and woolen sweaters and, finally, a wind-breaker jacket."

How Many Monarchs?
We're waiting for the official annual estimate of monarch numbers. We'll post the news as soon as we have it. Estela made a rough count of butterfly trees while at El Rosario and the numbers seemed to be down:

"I have been told there are about 20 butterfly trees this year. Last year I was able to count a minimum of 30 trees, whose branches were bending because of the weight of the big clusters of monarchs."

• Essential Questions: How does the oyamel forest meet the monarchs' needs? What monarch characteristics and behaviors help the butterflies survive?

• Report your monarch and milkweed sightings!

		Journal
First Monarch (map | animation | sightings)	First Milkweed (map | animation | sightings)