Did you know? Monarch butterflies migrate from Winnipeg

WINNIPEG — Late August and into September is the time of year when monarch butterflies make their annual migration to Mexico.

Dorothy Dilay of Winnipeg is a member of www.monarchwatch.org.

Her residence is even designated an official waystation.

Since 2008 she’s been raising monarchs. Then tagging them in order to track them to their destination in the hills of Mexico.

Monarchs are definitely her passion, but the pay off to see the fruits of her labour is not great.

Of the 543 monarch’s she’s helped tag only two have reached their destination.

“People at Monarch Watch do not call you, you have to keep checking the website,” said Dilay. “I’d regularly check in the spring and when I saw my name I was thrilled. I was absolutely amazed.”

Some experts believe climate change and severe weather is making the trip increasingly difficult.

“We are pretty much at the northern border as far north as they do go.” added Dilay.

Which is why scientists are especially keen to study monarchs that fly from Winnipeg.

They can travel up to 160 kilometres in a day gliding along the thermal update for most of it.

It’s the longest migration of any insect in the world.

Hopefully once they make it to their destination, they can mate the following spring. Allowing the cycle to begin all over again.