Grow Milkweed Plants Podcast
Western Monarch Butterfly Population 2015 - 013
Welcome to Grow Milkweed Plants podcast
Brad Grimm podcasting from next to two milkweed plants that I'm overwintering; episode 13. We have some exciting news that we received from the Western Monarch Count.
Western Monarch Count is an organization that tallies the monarch population on the west. The western monarch butterfly population is counted by volunteers during the Thanksgiving count which is a three-week period surrounding Thanksgiving day. Wihile the larger eastern population of monarch butterflies is concentrated in its fewest 13 overwintering sites. Colonies in California are spread throughout over 200 overwintering sites. This year's data was collected from 187 overwintering sites throughout California Arizona and Baja California. The northernmost site was in Mendocino County and the southernmost site was in San Diego County. Although you could include Arizona in that. In the 2015 overwintering sample Baja California did not contribute any numbers to the population.
Western Monarch Count is an organization that tallies the monarch population on the west. The western monarch butterfly population is counted by volunteers during the Thanksgiving count which is a three-week period surrounding Thanksgiving day. Wihile the larger eastern population of monarch butterflies is concentrated in its fewest 13 overwintering sites. Colonies in California are spread throughout over 200 overwintering sites. This year's data was collected from 187 overwintering sites throughout California Arizona and Baja California. The northernmost site was in Mendocino County and the southernmost site was in San Diego County. Although you could include Arizona in that. In the 2015 overwintering sample Baja California did not contribute any numbers to the population.
So what is the western population count?
The number is 271,924 monarch butterflies. WOW! That's over a quarter million monarch butterflies. That must be a lot. But how does it compare to previous years? 2015 Winter monarchs was the highest count since the year 2000. In 2000 there were 390,057 monarch butterflies. That was at 139 overwintering sites. the average number of overwintering monarchs at each individual site was counted as 1,454 monarchs. That number is calculated by taking the total number of monarchs counted. Dividing it by the total number of sites that were visited. That gives you an average population density at any given site. The average number of monarchs at each individual site doesn't yield any significant statistical data. Although it does indicate that the average number monarchs per site is up over the last three years. The average number of monarchs per site appears to basically mirror the increase in monarchs as a whole over the last three years, increasing slightly each year.
One piece of data from the count that has me scratching my head and also smiling is the standard error. At the very bottom of the monarch count data the standard error is shared. The 2015 standard error is the lowest number that we've seen any Thanksgiving count for western monarchs. The standard error in 2015 is is 246.5 In 1997 when there were over 1 million monarch butterflies. The standard error on that that count is calculated to be 2,178. I'm not sure exactly how the standard error is calculated. I do know that a larger standard error would indicate a larger possibility of the count being either higher or lower. So in 2015 we have the lowest standard error at 246.5 and that should indicate that we have a fairly accurate monarch count in 2015.
One piece of data from the count that has me scratching my head and also smiling is the standard error. At the very bottom of the monarch count data the standard error is shared. The 2015 standard error is the lowest number that we've seen any Thanksgiving count for western monarchs. The standard error in 2015 is is 246.5 In 1997 when there were over 1 million monarch butterflies. The standard error on that that count is calculated to be 2,178. I'm not sure exactly how the standard error is calculated. I do know that a larger standard error would indicate a larger possibility of the count being either higher or lower. So in 2015 we have the lowest standard error at 246.5 and that should indicate that we have a fairly accurate monarch count in 2015.
How does the 2015 monarch population compare?
One fact that I was able to discern from the data sheet on the count is that this year we have the most monarch wintering sites ever visited. In 2009 we had the fewest monarch sites ever visited. 2009 also had a very low monarch butterfly population. One question that that raises and my mind is, in 2009 if we visited fewer sites and we saw fewer butterflies, that seems pretty logical. If we visited more sites would we have seen more butterflies? That isn't entirely available just looking at the data. One reason I'm not keen to criticize the 2009 overwintering data is because they were actually higher locations visited. Higher sites visited in 2008 and 2010. 2008 there was 116 overwintering sites. 2010; 114. But the monarch counts in those years were only 131,000 and 143,000. In 1997 there was a lower number of sites visited, only 101 but there was over a million butterflies. Almost 1.25 million butterflies in 1997. So you can visit fewer site and see more butterflies.
That would of course require having more butterflies. That's why growing milkweed plants is critically important. As my wife and I were driving away from Pacific Grove I couldn't help but reminisce on the possibilities that could exist in an explored monarch overwintering sites. Along Highway and byways of California there's numerous groves of trees that look like an ideal habitat. I couldn't help speculate that the potential exists that there's unseen Monarch butterfly sanctuaries in California’s open space that just hasn't been explored yet.It leaves me optimistic that the population is higher than the areas that are counted. Its really difficult without the cooperation of property owners, young scientists and outdoorsmen like yourself. I encourage you to go out and explore and see what's in the area around you and if you find something new tell somebody. You could contribute to future counts of monarch butterflies and discovering new overwintering sites.
That would of course require having more butterflies. That's why growing milkweed plants is critically important. As my wife and I were driving away from Pacific Grove I couldn't help but reminisce on the possibilities that could exist in an explored monarch overwintering sites. Along Highway and byways of California there's numerous groves of trees that look like an ideal habitat. I couldn't help speculate that the potential exists that there's unseen Monarch butterfly sanctuaries in California’s open space that just hasn't been explored yet.It leaves me optimistic that the population is higher than the areas that are counted. Its really difficult without the cooperation of property owners, young scientists and outdoorsmen like yourself. I encourage you to go out and explore and see what's in the area around you and if you find something new tell somebody. You could contribute to future counts of monarch butterflies and discovering new overwintering sites.
What changes are being seen in the 2015 western monarchs?
One of the new overwintering sites in 2015 is in Alameda County. The site is called Berkeley Aquatic Park. For the previous counts it's never been an overwintering site. However, in 2015 Berkeley Aquatic Park had 1,325 Monarch butterflies. In another location nearby, Lake Merritt, had 100. These are just some of the places that there were no monarch butterflies in previous counts but they are discovered now. Another example is Marin. They had an astounding 10,200 monarch butterflies at Juniper and kale, Bolinas. If you search Bolinas Monarch butterflies you should be able to find some information on them. Another one at Muir Beach at 8000 that's over 18,000 mamonarch butterflies at a location that had previously been unexplored. Back in January when Ashley and I were in California Pacific Grove. We were witnessing somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 monarch butterflies.
Those butterflies currently are in the break up stage. Breaking up from clusters - not breaking up from each other. Come Valentine's Day they are actually going to begin maiting. The break up marks the beginning of the spring migration. While I would like to see the break-up of the monarch butterflies and beginning of spring migration, I'm busy preparing for their arrival out here in Sparks Nevada. I'm beginning a landscaping project. The landscaping project in the backyard is going include a monarch wayststion between 150 and 200 ft.² in a raised planter. In the last hour before recording this episode I spent some time in the office collecting up various flowers, perennials, annuals seeds that I had been collecting seeds from all over. Some of the seeds are wildflower seeds that I collected last fall. I put those in a bag. Then I consolidated all of them into a box with some labeling on it. Once the planter bed is ready in my landscaping project. The I’ll be able to sow the seeds.
Those butterflies currently are in the break up stage. Breaking up from clusters - not breaking up from each other. Come Valentine's Day they are actually going to begin maiting. The break up marks the beginning of the spring migration. While I would like to see the break-up of the monarch butterflies and beginning of spring migration, I'm busy preparing for their arrival out here in Sparks Nevada. I'm beginning a landscaping project. The landscaping project in the backyard is going include a monarch wayststion between 150 and 200 ft.² in a raised planter. In the last hour before recording this episode I spent some time in the office collecting up various flowers, perennials, annuals seeds that I had been collecting seeds from all over. Some of the seeds are wildflower seeds that I collected last fall. I put those in a bag. Then I consolidated all of them into a box with some labeling on it. Once the planter bed is ready in my landscaping project. The I’ll be able to sow the seeds.
More Milkweed plants makes for more monarchs
I really do prefer putting plants in the ground that begin with seed because strong seeds create strong plants. Transplanting just hasn't been an extremely successful endeavor for me. So I try to avoid transplanting whenever possible. I really enjoy watching seats flourish. In parting notes I like to remind you that March 20th is the last day of winter or first day of spring if you're not an optimist. Milkweed seeds love to be sown in the winter so go out and get those milkweed seeds in the ground before March 20 for best results.
Thank you for listening to Grow Milkweed Plants podcast my name is Brad Grimm. If it's good for the butterflies; it's good for me.
Thank you for listening to Grow Milkweed Plants podcast my name is Brad Grimm. If it's good for the butterflies; it's good for me.
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