Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2B
October 8, 2008
Monroe County Outdoors
^Reporter
Mustangs
continued from IB
Monarchs on the move
^^^^^erhaps you have
I Keen them, large or-
ange butterflies
I etched with striking
black lines drifting
through your backyard. They
are monarch butterflies and
are migrating toward their
wintering grounds far to the
south beyond our borders.
The monarch is
probably the most
recognizable but
terfly in North
America.
Additionally, it is
probably our most
researched butter
fly-
Each year from
August to
November some
200 to 250 mil
lion monarchs
that take off on
a migration
that can cover well over
2,000 miles. This epic jour
ney is considered to be the
longest migration under
taken by any insect.
Accordingly, it is consid
ered to be one of most
amazing natural events in
the entire world.
Each of these beautiful
insects that broke free of
their chrysalis anywhere
east of the Rocky
Mountains is headed to
roughly a dozen roosts in
the mountains of Mexico.
Here in cool, moist fir
forests west of Mexico City
they spend the winter
waiting to return to North
America.
It is thought that the
migration is triggered by
declining day length and
temperatures. Each year
monarch raise several gen
erations. All are alike,
seemingly being cut out
using the same cookie cut
ter. However, when it is
time to migrate, that gen
eration is different.
Members of the group
have smaller bodies than
those that emerged earlier.
Instead of living for less
than 2 months, they can
live 10 months or more. In
addition, instead of being
loners, they congregate
with one another at night.
The monarch’s fall migra
tion begins as early as
August for those butter
flies raised at the northern
edge of their breeding
grounds. It will continue
until November. Locally
most of the orange and
black migrants pass
through our backyards
from late September
through October. Using the
sun, polarized light and
and possibly magnetic
fields to navigate, the
insects fly south and west
then down the Texas coast
to Mexico. Unlike many
ruby-throated humming
birds, they don’t migrate
over the Gulf of Mexico.
Monarchs migrate up to
80 miles a day. The butter
fly migrates at a speed of
some 20 mph
taking advan
tage of favor
able winds
whenever pos
sible. However,
at times the
migration
appears to
move at a
leisurely
pace as
they often
glide to
conserve
energy. Remarkably,
migrating monarchs have
been seen flying 10,000
feet above the earth.
As monarchs move along,
they stop in weedy fields,
along roadsides, backyards
and other stopover sites
containing adequate cover
and nectar. At night mon
archs roost singly or in
both small and large
groups. Preferred roosts
inclue hedges, eastern red
cedars, pines, maples, wil
lows and other trees whose
leaves are narrow or sport
projections that allow to
park for the night.
Along their arduous jour
ney monarch constantly
refuel. Some of the plants
that offer them this much-
needed nectar include
goldenrod, Mexican sun
flower, zinnia, joe-pye
weed, sedum and aster, to
name a few. When food is
abundant some monarchs
are actually able to
increase their weight dur
ing their migration. The
amount of fuel, stored as
fat when they reach their
wintering grounds is
extremely critical as it
must sustain them
throughout the winter.
Until 1975, we didn’t
know where the monarchs
actually overwintered.
However, the January of
that year the wintering
ground was located. What
a sight it was! Here the
trees were literally blan
keted with the colorful
insects. Upwards of 25 mil
lion monarchs per acre
were seen.
It quickly became obvi
ous that these precious
sites must be protected. As
a result the Monarch
Biosphere Reserve was
established. However, in
spite of being set aside as
a refuge for Monarchs, ille
gal logging continues to
eat away at this precious
habitat.
During the winter the
wintering monarchs
mature and by February
mate and are ready to
head northward. In truth,
the monarchs that migrate
south rarely make it back
to their breeding grounds.
As they migrate north they
stop along the way and lay
eggs. Once a female lays
her eggs, her days are
numbered. However, her
progeny hatch and move a
little farther north. After
4-5 generations, monarchs
finally reach the far reach
es of their breeding range.
The success of this
migration depends on the
ability of the butterflies to
find milkweeds. Monarchs
lay their eggs only on
milkweeds. The problem is
that excellent stands of
milkweeds are becoming
increasingly more difficult
to find.
If you would like to help
the monarch survive, pro
vide monarchs with both
fall blooming nectar plants
and milkweeds. These
plants can be obtained
from nurseries that spe
cialize in native plants.
The monarch faces a
multitude of threats. Their
wintering areas are being
deforested. Stopover sites
that provide fuel during
migration and milkweeds
needed for raising young.
Pesticides and the loss of
weedy fields and roadside
all take their toll. In fact,
the problem is so acute
that some experts predict
that this unbelievable
migration will cease to
exist in as little as 3
decades.
Let’s all pledge to do
everything we can to
ensure this dire prediction
doesn’t become a reality.
Terry Johnson is the
retired Program Manager
of the Georgia Nongame-
Endangered Wildlife
Program. He is currently
Executive Director of
TERN (The Nongame
Wildlife Section's Friends
Group) and conducts
wildlife research and sur
vey projects, presents pro
grams and writes about
wildlife. Email him at
TJWoodDuck@aol.com.
Deadline for tennis open
registration is Oct. 15
The Monroe County Tennis Open will be
held Saturday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Oct.
26 at the Mary Persons High School ten
nis courts. Quarters and semi-finals will
be played on Oct. 25 and all final matches
will be played on Oct. 26. Some prelimi
nary matches may need to be played dur
ing the prior week. The money raised dur
ing competitions will be given to the
Monroe County Ministerial Association
Transient Fund. Forms should be turned
in to First Baptist Church Forsyth or
Forsyth United Methodist Church no
later than Oct. 15. Registration fees are
$15 for middle and high school students
and $20 for adults. Fill out form below
and make checks payable to the Monroe
Co. Ministerial Association.
For more information call First Baptist
Church of Forsyth at 994-5240.
Name
Address.
Phones
Monroe County Tennis Open '08
October 25-26
T-shirt size (circle one)
Youth S M L
Adult S M L XL XXL
Fee and registration deadline is Wednesday, October 15
$5 ea. middle school (grades 6-8) Singles: M F (circle one)
Doubles: (partner’s name)
$15 ea. high school (grades 9-12 Singles: M
Doubles:
F (circle one)
(partner’s name)
$20 Adult (college and up) Singles: M
Doubles: M
F (circle one)
F
Mixed
Total # of events
(make checks payable to Monroe Co. Ministerial Association)
Mail registration form with entry fee to: First Baptist Church of Forsyth, 95 W.
Morse St., Forsyth, GA 31029. Deadline: Wednesday, Oct. 15
but with 7:56 left in first quarter, the
Mustangs were in front 6-0.
Before the packed MA homecoming
crowd was settled it had reason to cheer
again. The Rebels turned the ball over
on downs. Aaron Purser picked up six
yards for the Mustangs. On third down,
Purser passed for 38 yards to Andrew
Henriksen - who was just over the goal
line — for the score. With 4:13 still
remaining in the first quarter, Monroe
was leading 12-0.
Early in second half, the Rebels made
their first reply to Monroe. Monroe
received to begin the half, but Purser
threw an interception. Rebel Devin
Rachels took the interception 29 yards.
The Rebels then put together a six-play
drive which covered 20 yards. With 7:38
left in the third, the score was 12-8,
Monroe.
The Rebels then began the fourth
quarter with a quick TD to take the
lead, 16-12.
The Mustangs began
their last drive of the
contest at their own one-
foot line. Painstakingly
MA put together a nine-
play effort that included
four first downs. Colwell
carried twice for 12
yards. Purser collected
six followed by Colwell
who gained another
eight. Purser picked up
two before Epperson
streaked for 15. Colwell
moved another seven
yards. That's when
Purser hit Dean Fabian
with a pass covering 47
yards. Epperson scored
the touchdown from six
out. Drew Elderidge's
run for two was good.
With 1:56 left in the
game, Monroe was back
on top with the final 20-
16.
and 47 yards.Epperson carried 20 times
for 87 yards. Eldridge carried eight
times for 41 yards and Colwell carried
eight times for 27 yards. Puerser com
pleted three of eight pass attempts for
98 yards and a TD. Leading receivers
included Fabian with one catch for 47
yards, Henriksen with one catch for 38
yards and Chris Harrelson with one
catch for 13 yards.
On defense, Spivey had eight tackles,
two sacks and a fumble recovery. Austin
Anderson had 10 tackles. Purser had six
tackles; Adam Laney had four; Epperson
had three; Micah Gilbert had three;
Colby Lewis, Tyler Guess, Fabian, Chris
Harrelson and Eldridge had two each;
and Gahrett Gaylord had one plus a
fumble recovery. Fabian also had a fum
ble recovery.
This Friday night, the Mustangs travel
to Savannah to play Bethesda in a
region match. The Mustangs are now 3-3
overall andl-1 in region play.
Dr. Craig Caldwell
and
Dr. Jeremy Goodwin
Moments later, Monroe
recovered a Rebel fumble
but promptly turned the
ball back over with a
fumble of their own. The
Rebels then threw four
incomplete passes, turn
ing the ball over on
downs. Monroe ran the
clock out.
Statistically, the con
test was as close as the
score. Monroe had 11
first downs to John
Hancock's 10. The
Mustangs rushed for
202 yards while the
Rebels rushed for 267.
Monroe, however, had 98
yards passing to
Hancock's 17. Total
yardage was 300 for
Monroe and 284 for
John Hancock.
Offensively, Monroe's
standouts included
Purser with 14 carries
Monroe County
Rec Football
Scoreboard
Sept. 27
Saints 28 BengalsO
Rams 32 Dolphins 0
Giants 6 Cowboys 0
Oilers 19 SteelersO
Jets 0 Panthers 0
Bulldogs 26 Jackets 13
Tigers 20 Jaguars 0
Upcoming
games Oct. 11
9 am
Cowboys vs. Steelers
10:15 am
Oilers vs. Giants
11:30 am
Panthers vs.
Seminoles
12:45
Rams vs. Saints
1:45 pm
Bengals vs. Dolphins
2:45 pm
Yellow Jackets vs.
Jaguars
3:30 pm
Tigers vs. Bulldogs
Recreation Night
with the Bulldogs
Oct. 10 is Monroe
County Recreation
Department night at
the Mary Persons foot
ball game against
Eagles Landing at
7:30 p.m. at Dan Pitts
Stadium. Rec football
players, cheerleaders
and coaches get in to
the game free with
uniform top on.
“Committed to Patient Care & Health”
478-994-1010
97 Martin Luther King. Jr. Drive, Forsyth. Georgia 3102 1 ?
Monday thru Friday. 8:30am—5:00pm
^Internal
V Medicine Associates
of Middle Georgia
“I’m
Certified
to hit the ground running.”
With Work Ready, Georgia
companies are enjoying a
competitive edge they’ve never
had before. To learn how to hire
Work Ready people, visit
www.gaworkready.org or the
economic development office
at your local technical college.