This does not sound so good~~ keep planting your milkweeds, DGers!
Part of an e-mail I received from from Jim Lovett of Monarch Watch:
Status of the Population----------------------------------------
The 2009-2010 overwintering monarch population in Mexico covered a forest area of only 1.92 hectares. This figure represents an all time low for overwintering monarchs and is well below the long-term average of 7.44 hectares (1994-2010).
We worried about these low numbers because of the possibility that a devastating storm could drive the population even lower. And then it happenedŠa storm of the worst possible dimensions hit the overwintering area starting on 2 February. Accounts of the flooding and landslides can be found on the Monarch Watch Blog at http://monarchwatch.org/blog/category/mexico/
More information from Jim Lovett on the Monarch Watch Blog: http://monarchwatch.org/blog/category/mexico/
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Monarch 2010 Population Count Lowest in Years
I read about that when it happened...it was also on our local news.
Funny thing is that we have been having 3-4 times as many Monarchs as the past couple of years...no joke! I mentioned this on a few threads :)
Maybe the monarchs didn't migrate all the way back to Mexico. Texas and here in South Florida they could had found shelter. But who knows. All I know is that I've got lots of caterpillars eating milkweed and I couldn't be happier.
Roly,
Very cool! The last count of Cats in our garden on our 8 milkweed was 37. I'm sure there will be some devoured by birds, but many will make it to migrate :)