Science and Society
The Latest Developments in Science and Technology
Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
RECENT POSTS
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
The Flight of Monarchs
October 10, 2007 6:39 PM
This time of year--through means still mysterious to scientists--Monarch Butterflies seem to take note that the sun is no longer as high in the sky as it was through the summer. That's their cue to pick up and start their migration southward to central Mexico, a journey that can take 2,000 miles.
UPDATE: Several of you wrote asking to see the video of the piece we did for World News Wednesday night. You should be able to find it HERE.
Our staff also put together a slide show of the butterflies. You can find it at this LINK. (Note: apologies to anyone who tried this before and found the link broken. It ought to work now.)
"We know why they're doing it," says Chip Taylor of the University of Kansas. "They have to get out of town, they have to get to Mexico because they're going to freeze their little--their little antennae off."
Prof. Taylor is the leader of a project called Monarch Watch, and we got to watch his work for a piece for World News. Each year he recruits some 15,000 people--schoolchildren, gardeners, nature lovers--to help track the butterflies on their way south. The volunteers catch monarchs, tag them with little numbered stickers supplied by the project, and let them go.
If one of the tagged butterflies is spotted by another volunteer, each sticker has an e-mail address and a unique code. Enter the numbers into a computer in Taylor's lab, and you get a picture of just how the monarchs travel.
They can go 80 miles in a day--2,000 miles in a month. It's not clear how they navigate, whether by the sun or by wind currents or whether they can sense the earth's magnetic field. They travel over land. Somehow, a butterfly in Utah knows it should follow a different compass heading than one in Georgia to reach the warmth of Mexico.
Taylor steered us to one of the many "way stations" volunteers have planted around the country--gardens with milkweed, butterfly bushes, and other plants on which the butterflies thrive. I was surprised how many butterflies there were, even in Manhattan, next to a highway.
Yes, Taylor says, the monarchs' habitat is threatened by herbicides and new subdivisions. But the butterflies' numbers, he says, appear to be pretty good of late.
Enjoy the pictures, and poke around Taylor's website. If the butterflies have left your part of the world, they'll be back next year.
October 10, 2007 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (17)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
I attempted to watch your picture show of the Monarch butterflies, and it would not display.
Very disappointing.
Posted by: Julia R. Hindle | Oct 10, 2007 7:53:37 PM
The server for your butterfly photos cannot be found. Frustrating.
Posted by: Charley Roesch | Oct 10, 2007 7:59:12 PM
I could not access it, either. Having just hatched over 50 monarchs this past summer, I would love to watch!
Posted by: Lindsay McGuire | Oct 10, 2007 8:44:55 PM
Can someone please fix the link so we can see the video??
Posted by: Katherine | Oct 10, 2007 8:54:26 PM
Ditto
Posted by: Naomi | Oct 10, 2007 8:57:01 PM
I could not access the video. I tagged monarchs with my 3rd grade class this past Sept. and would love to show them the migration - any chance the link can be fixed?
Posted by: Pat | Oct 10, 2007 9:16:20 PM
We could not access the video. Can you please fix the link? We would love to watch this migration video.
Posted by: Janelle | Oct 10, 2007 9:41:35 PM
I was also unable to view the monarch video. Was very disappointed.
Posted by: Maddie | Oct 10, 2007 9:46:18 PM
Note from Ned--
Profuse apologies to everyone who tried the broken link to the pictures before. It should be working now.
Posted by: Ned Potter | Oct 10, 2007 10:16:17 PM
Several times we have witnessed huge migrtions of Monarch butterflies through our RV Park in Desert Hot Springs, CA in early spring. They appear to be heading NW. Not just a few, thousands of them.
Posted by: Kitty Robinson | Oct 11, 2007 4:39:52 AM
I hope someone out there can answer a question for me about butterflies.
My Father recently passed away and now it seems everytime I turn around there's something to do with buterflies. My Mother and I were at the gravesite 2 days after the burial & in flew in this beautiful monarch which circled the grave & flew off into the sky. I know they are referenced in Angel books. Maybe something to do with the fluttering of the butterflies wings compared to those of an angel?
Posted by: Patty | Oct 11, 2007 6:20:13 AM
Is there anyway to get a copy of the monarch butterfly segment that aired on the nightly news October 10,2007. I'm a 3rd grade teacher and would love to show it to my class.
Posted by: Kimberly | Oct 11, 2007 7:32:38 AM
I would really like to view the link. It is still not working. My kindergarten class is studying Monarchs, and I would love to show them the clip from last night.
Thanks!
Posted by: Natalie | Oct 11, 2007 11:01:36 AM
ABC -
How can I watch the segnment of the Evening News on Wednesday, October 10 on the Monarch Butterflies. Brother-in-law, Don Cook, was featured.
Posted by: Linda Bradley | Oct 11, 2007 11:30:46 AM
Hi, I was told by my brother that this was an awesome video to see, I have tried numerous times to view, since I read that the problem had been fixed and was now able to view, which at this moment, is not the case. If I can either get a personal e-mail sent when this will be up and running, and/or, to be able to buy or purchase that segement on, "The Flight Of the Monarchs". Thank you very much on doing a piece on the Monarchs, as they continue to amaze me every time...an awesome creature that draws so much attraction & attention, probably more for"why" and "what" it does, then what it looks like, although a beautiful creature, there a more species more beautiful and spectacular then the Monarch, but I love the monarch the best, you can say I am partial or prejudice to it only (smile). Always an intriguing and beautiful creature of hopes and always ready to draw crowds & smiles across the world, where ever they go...
Posted by: Amador Almanza | Oct 11, 2007 12:37:34 PM
In response to Kitty Robinson, Hi, my name is Amador , I am sorry for your great loss, my condolences to you, your mother & family. Well, I can't prove there is anything concrete if a monarch or any butterfly is an angel, but I do think God created them to be somewhat of a spiritual creature, as they mystify us, even from their transformation from caterpillar to butterfly is amazing in itself. As I took my mother, brother & father, to Pacific Grove Ca. to view the Monarch's before there migration, as it was, I was trying to take a still picture of one, as my father pointed out that one had landed right in front of him, at his feet while sitting on a bench, it just seemed to sit there, to model itself for us, in complete trust, after a few close up pics, he fluttered away, and made my father chuckle, as I called him butterfly master, as we all laughed and smiled, and were excited to the point that it just landed there & allowed us to view her/him to take pictures. After we left for home, happy we went, my father, unknowingly at the time, was diagnosed with leukemia, not to long after the trip, as we were in shock and deeply saddened by our traggic news, we kept the faith and prayed, but the good Lord said it was time, he was gone in a month, almost to the day the doctor had said. He was a strong 82 when he left us, and we miss him badly. But on his funeral, my sister had penciled in doves for his sad but special day, I suggested Monarch butterflies, as she thought that would be a better choice, that way each of the grandkids could hold one and release it into the heavens, as we had a mariachi type 2 man band performance playing in the back ground, it was so beautiful, as they played loving & spiritual hymns, as our friends and family looked on, as it was time to release the butterflies, it was so awesome, touching & beautiful to see, it even made the men cry, which they were holding out as best as they could. But it took a simple creature, as a Monarch Butterfly, to make them & all, to be touched as they were the finishing touches to that sad & special day, that made us understand how important we are to one another, as it drew out our deepest emotions. I had all the men comment," yep, I was good, till that last moment, then the sprinklers started" And on cue, the butterflies did their magic, as they circled around us for a few turns, as some quickly landed on my fathers gravesite. Now every time I see a Monarch Butterfly, I think of my father as well...feel free to write me for more questions, comments or replies at www.onesportndude@aol.com ...Take care & God bless to all. Sincerely, Amador A.
Posted by: Amador Almanza | Oct 11, 2007 1:21:27 PM
My students would have appreciated a video of the broadcast. We had been talking about the migration of the monarch butterfly in class yesterday.
Posted by: Sharon | Oct 11, 2007 2:26:12 PM
Post a comment
