This Week's Update Includes:

• News: Clouds of Migrating Butterflies!
• The Migration: Maps and Journal

Minnesota's bear man, Dr. Lynn Rogers, noted "clouds of migrating monarch butterflies—more than any of us have ever seen."

From Manitoba: "Monarch sightings are a rare event around here. I didn't see any last year and only a few in the 12 years that I've been here. Today while I was walking with my dogs I saw at least 20 in the hour that I was out."

Other observers in northern Minnesota were similarly astonished by the numbers: "Likely 50 plus monarchs during the day," said one and "we saw dozens, maybe hundreds," said another.

Whoosh! There's That Weather Pattern Again
These weather maps illustrate the classic weather pattern monarchs use to jump northward. These conditions create an "insect pump" that carries the monarchs from their source region into new breeding territory.

Population Building in the East
The monarchs entered Quebec and New Brunswick this week for a total of five Canadian provinces. Here are their abbreviations: ON, MB, SK, NB, PQ. Can you name them?

As in the Midwest, New England observers are noting early arrivals and large numbers:

"Went today and found over 100 eggs," wrote a Connecticut observer.

"Last year was my earliest sighting in early June, this year is my new record," a Massachusetts observer wrote on May 19th.

Look at the animated map to see how far advanced this spring is compared to last spring.

• Please report monarch and milkweed sightings.

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