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Re: Monarch butterflies, are they more uncommon?

I've heard other people express the same feeling.  

If I remember correctly, the small forest tract in Mexico where they
overwinter is being logged illegally.  It's officially protected, but
they're having a hard time keeping the locals from cutting trees and
grazing etc.  It's also being "loved to death" by tourists.  I'm sure this
could have a severe impact on their numbers.

Chris.

On Tue, 4 Jul 2000, Richard S Rhodes II wrote:

>In 2000 we first saw a monarch butterfly almost a couple of months ago at our 640 acre
>prairie restoration / reconstruction project in Iowa County, Iowa.  Since then, during 6
>to 12 hour visits, 2 to 3 times a week, we have never seen more than 3 in a day.  Most
>often we spot only 1 individual; sometimes none are seen.  If memory serves (we did not
>keep records last year and haven't really this year), we saw *many* more monarchs at all
>times in the summer of 1999.  I of course am not counting the migration when large numbers
>were seen in fall 1999.
>
>Is this anyone else's experience?
>
>We wonder if the increased planting of GMO crops (esp. Bt corn, etc) may be contributing
>to this seeming decline of monarchs?  Corn is not yet pollinating in our area, so its
>pollen, if Bt added, can't yet be effecting this year's cohort of larvae.  Was there some
>other disaster to the south of us which has reduced the numbers of returning adults?
>
>Sandy Rhodes
>
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