Where the Wind Blows: Does wind speed affect overwintering monarchs?

About this episode

This episode discusses the impact of wind speed on the overwintering of monarch butterflies.

**Correction: In this episode it states that the number of western monarchs in 2023 was 9,000 total. This was the total number for 2024. Monarch butterflies are known as long-distance travelers, flying hundreds or thousands of miles from summer breeding areas to overwintering sites. These sites, although small, are essential for the survival of monarchs. Monarch butterflies across the western United States and into British Columbia migrate to California, where they shelter in tree groves scat...

Topics covered

• monarch butterflies
• migration
• overwintering
• wind speed
• western United States
• California

Keywords

• monarchs
• wind speed
• overwintering
• migration
• California
• western monarchs

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Xerces Society

Books & works: monarch butterflies

Places: California, British Columbia

More episodes of Bug Banter with the Xerces Society

• Beyond the Backyard: Building Pollinator Habitat in the Community · June 2, 2026 · 25 min
• Goodbye Grass, Hello Bugs: Bringing Life Back to Our Yards · May 21, 2026 · 50 min
• The Story of a Little Blue Butterfly: The Karner Blue · May 5, 2026 · 37 min
• Poo Fighters and Nutrient Recyclers: the Incredible Dung Beetle · April 21, 2026 · 35 min
• The Beauty of Less: Xeriscaping for Pollinators · April 7, 2026 · 38 min
• Speedy, Hairy, and Harmless: Solifuges · March 17, 2026 · 42 min