|
This is a YouTube version of NOVA's beautiful documentary on the Monarch migration. We may watch the introduction in class. It is NOT required as homework, but if your parent agrees, it would be a wonderful video to watch
|
Images of Monarchs in their winter roost
Monarchs have more than one habitat
Monarchs have 3 habitats - 2 for the adults and 1 for the larva (or caterpillar).
|
|
PBS has some remarkable footage of the butterflies leaving their winter home in Mexico taken with a hummingbird drone. The also have "spy" animals that they've used to get close to a number of species in their habitats.
|
Monarch Decline: Predators & Habitat Loss
The Monarch population has declined at an alarming rate due to natural predators and parasites, but more so because of habitat loss.
Monarchs are widely know to carry the toxin from the milkweed plant. It is a toxin that affects the heart. Many people therefore have the mistaken idea that they have no predators. Many species, however, are immune to this toxin, which leaves the egg, caterpillar and butterfly vulnerable to attack. Here is a list of some of these predators and parasites. Briefly, they include some species of spiders, ants, birds and flies (as well as parasites). Human activity is one of the most serious causes of the decline. As humans build more buildings and farm more land, less and less land is available for them to get their food from. When Eagle School added the new wing, we destroyed their important prairie habitat, so we dedicated part of our land to restoring prairie and planting a Monarch waystation. You can see the prairie and the sign designating the waystation by the auditorium. Think of it as a fast food restaurant along the highway to their destination. We also have lots of milkweed for the Monarchs to reproduce. Lastly, we're participating in Monarch Watch's tagging program this year (2016) and will register all the Monarchs we raise or catch, tag and release. |