| Keyword | Description |
|---|---|
| Monarch butterfly | A type of butterfly known for its long migration journey from Canada to Mexico. |
| Migration | The seasonal movement of animals from one place to another. |
| Habitat | The natural environment where an animal or plant lives. |
Monarch butterflies are on an amazing journey right now. Each year, these butterflies fly from southern Canada to central Mexico. Recently, the first monarchs were seen in Coahuila, a state in Mexico. This means their long trip has begun!
These butterflies travel south during late August to reach warm forests in Mexico where they spend the winter. Many monarchs have already been spotted in cities like Acuña and Monclova. They like to rest and feed on flowers such as the Mexican sunflower and pomegranate blossoms.
Some butterflies were even tagged with tiny radio transmitters in Winnipeg, Canada. This helps scientists follow their journey. One butterfly, known as MB26011, has already flown about 2,300 kilometers to Mexico!
Conservationists are watching closely because monarch numbers have dropped a lot since the 1990s. People can use the Project Monarch app to track the butterflies’ progress. Profauna, a group that helps protect animals, is asking people to share photos of the monarchs to learn more about their flight paths.
This is an exciting time as more monarchs will arrive in Mexico soon!
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Migration | Migración |
| Conservation | Conservación |
| Generation | Generación |
Time to discuss
- Why do you think monarch butterflies migrate such long distances?
- How can tracking devices help scientists protect monarch butterflies?
- What can people do to help monarch butterflies during their migration?
Let’s Write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph.
- Describe the journey of the monarch butterfly from Canada to Mexico.
- What challenges do monarch butterflies face during their migration?
