[Pollinator] Western Monarch Overwintering Season Has Begun!

[Isis Howard]

Hello all,

I bring good news: The overwintering season has officially begun!
There are Western
Monarch Count <https://westernmonarchcount.org/> reports of clustering
western monarch butterflies at overwintering sites in Marin, CA, south
through San Luis Obispo, CA. Natural Bridges, Pacific Grove and Pismo
Butterfly Sanctuaries all have overwintering monarchs present.
Additionally, several tagged monarchs have been observed already, and the
appropriate researchers were contacted.

Breeding season observations and the late-ish arrival times at western
overwintering sites suggest we may see reduced numbers this season. Time
will tell.

More detailed updates to come; the Xerces Society <https://xerces.org/>
will share overwintering monarch news approximately each month through the
fall and winter season. You can also follow the Western Monarch Count on
Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/westernmonarchcount/> or sign up for
eNewsletters <https://westernmonarchcount.org/>.

*Reminders:*

   - If you are a monarch counter or overwintering site surveyor
   <https://westernmonarchcount.org/step-by-step-monitoring-guide/>, please
   begin visiting your local overwintering sites ASAP; don't forget to report
   your data here <https://westernmonarchcount.org/submit-your-data/>. The
   Xerces Society maintains the most comprehensive database of overwintering
   western monarchs and shares the data with conservation partners; a publicly
   published summary of counts across the West is also shared out in winter
   each season, following the counts.
   - Please also download the Project Monarch
   <https://swmonarchs.org/images/ProjectMonarchSWMSflyer.png> app on your
   smartphones to scan for BluMorpho tags this season. (see attached
   informational flyer)


Happy monarch season, take care!

Warmly,
Isis

-- 

Isis Howard (she/her)
Conservation Biologist
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
503.212.0546 | isis.howard at xerces.org

xerces.org <https://www.xerces.org/>
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