MONARCH BUTTERFLY, 2021
Just reported: The Monarch Butterfly will not be designated as an endangered species.
MONARCH BUTTERFLY POPULATION IN THE WEST
JUST REPORTED! The monarch population as been counted for California for 2020. The largest wintering site at Pismo Beach had just 200, yes-200 monarchs, which is down from 6,700 in 2019! Just five years ago, it was 293,000! The whole population of monarchs at 246 sites in California has fallen to just 1,914. Last year it was 29,418 at 243 sites.

In the 1980's, there were around 4.5 million monarchs at the sanctuaries in California.
Although the State of Alaska isn't known for monarch butterflies, one specimen has been collected in Hyder, Alaska. This town is in the southeast corner of the state. See picture of Hyder and map with the red dot.
NEW OVERWINTERING SITES LOCATED!
Citizen Scientists tagging monarchs along the Salt River in Phoenix, Arizona, have observed the same tagged monarchs later in the winter. The total count was just 20, but that was a sample to see if they were tagged elsewhere. More study is still needed to see what the population is at this new overwinter site. Other overwintering sites dicovered the last few years are Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina.

On January 5th, 2021, a tagged monarch was observed in Brookings, Oregon. At first it was thought to be a monarch staying in the area. However, a few days later, a couple of other tagged monarchs were sighted in the same area. Further study will be required to see if another overwintering area has been discovered.

My new Monarch Butterfly Waystation #4357, July 15th, 2016. Eighty-four monarchs visited this garden September through October, 2017. Many Honey Bees, too!
ALYSSA LARA OF ALPENA, MICHIGAN, AGE 8, TAGGED (UCS 810) A MALE MONARCH REARED BY ME IN HARRISVILLE ON AUGUST 30, 2015, AND IT WAS RECOVERED IN EL ROSARIO, MEXICO ON MARCH 6, 2016. THIS BUTTERFLY FLEW 2,173 MILES! THIS IS THE FIRST TAGGED MONARCH TO BE FOUND IN MEXICO FROM HARRISVILLE, MICHIGAN. SEE PICTURE OF THE MOUNTAIN BELOW.
Main migration flyways to Mexico start about August 15th from Harrisville, Michigan.
This is where Alyssa's monarch was found!
Right photograph: A female monarch on the beach at Harrisville State Park November 03, 2011 (48F.) I have also observed one monarch on November 02, 2011 (59F.), one monarch on November 03, 2015 (62F.), two monarchs on November 04, 2015 (68F.), and one male monarch on November 07, 2017 (40F.) seen at right on marigold flower. Monarchs can appear when you least expect it.
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FRANK APSEY OF HARRISVILLE, MICHIGAN, TAGGED (YGN 925) A FEMALE MONARCH NETTED ON THE BEACH AT HARRISVILLE STATE PARK ON AUGUST 18, 2018 (ON HIS WEDDING ANNIVERSARY)!
THE MONARCH WAS RECOVERED AT EL ROSARIO, MEXICO, IN MARCH OF 2019. THIS BUTTERFLY FLEW 2,174 MILES! THIS IS THE SECOND TAGGED MONARCH TO BE FOUND IN MEXICO FROM HARRISVILLE, MICHIGAN, SINCE 2010. SEE MAP BELOW FOR THE LOCATION OF EL ROSARIO.
THE MONARCH WAS RECOVERED AT EL ROSARIO, MEXICO, IN MARCH OF 2019. THIS BUTTERFLY FLEW 2,174 MILES! THIS IS THE SECOND TAGGED MONARCH TO BE FOUND IN MEXICO FROM HARRISVILLE, MICHIGAN, SINCE 2010. SEE MAP BELOW FOR THE LOCATION OF EL ROSARIO.
NEWS FROM THE SANCTURIES
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A WAVE OF 30+ MONARCHS HAVE ENTERED TEXAS ON MARCH 11, 2021, ON STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS. THESE MONARCHS AVERAGED 41 MILES A DAY MIGRATING FROM THE SANCTURARIES IN MEXICO TO TEXAS.