Boletin Audubon
January 2009
Newsletter Archives

The Newsletter of Sociedad Audubon de México, A.C.

Audubon Lectures and Programs January, 2009

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Monarch Butterflies: “The Winged Wonders of the 
Insect World”

On Tuesday, January 13th at 3:00 PM the Sociedad Audubon de México A.C. will present the popular slide show, “Monarchs, Butterflies Without Borders” at the Santa Ana theater in the Biblioteca. Presented by Bob Graham, retired naturalist from Parks Canada”, this slide show details the life cycle of the Monarch Butterfly and its fantastic migration from the milkweed fields of the northern United States and Canada to Mexico. At the same time, Bob will emphasize some of the problems threatening the very survival of this Endangered Phenomenon.
Scientists believe that Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) belong to a family whose evolutionary origins are tropical. None of this family is able to tolerate freezing at any stage of their life cycle so they cannot winter in the north. Nevertheless, over tens of thousands of years, Monarchs have extended their breeding territory into the extensive milkweed fields of the United States and Canada.

Each fall, like many Canadians and American humans, Monarchs abandon their northern homes and head south. What triggers this exodus among Monarchs is uncertain, but decreasing hours of daylight and cooler temperatures probably play a major role.
Their final destination is high in the mountains that make up the Sierra de Angengueo, in the State of Michoacan, only a half-day's drive south from San Miguel de Allende. For some Monarchs this journey spans much of North America.

Given the size of this dainty creature, this is one of the most perilous and spectacular migrations in the world. This trek and the beautiful, jade colored, bejeweled chrysalis have made Monarch Butterflies one of the most popular of North American insects, to the degree, that there is a move afoot to make them the National Insect of the United States.

Audubon members are welcome to attend the Monarch presentation at no charge. For others, tickets (50 pesos) can be purchased at the presentation. The proceeds will go to the Sociedad Audubon de México A.C. For additional information please call Bob Graham at 154 - 9856.

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Audubon, Charco Casitas de Aves auction plans take flight

By Carol Wheeler

Tweet tweet and yum yum were bird words heard in the background this week as El Charco del Ingenio and Audubon de Mexico, San Miguel's two major environmental/ecological NGOs, called for San Miguel artists, architects and designers to create bird houses and bird feeders for an art auction, Casitas des Aves, to raise money for both organizations. 

The live event, preceded by a silent auction and accompanied by botanas and bebidas, will take place at the Charco on February 15th, 2009, with famed "insider artist" Anado McLauchlin as auctioneer (as well as a creator). The deadline for creators to sign up is August 31, 2008.

Casitas de Aves will be the first time the two organizations have cooperated on a benefit, although they have recently worked together on other projects more ecological in nature. LInda Whynman, president of Audubon, who said "We didn't want the same old cocktail party," points out that the two organizations "share the same vision" of preserving San Miguel's natural environment. Also, events like this are very expensive to bring off and, as Naomi Zerriffi, who is heading the event for the Charco, says, "It just makes very good sense" to cooperate on these things. Both groups look forward to more cooperation in the future.

The concept of designing houses and feeders has captured the imagination of a great many local artistic types. "We've already had a huge response," Zerriffi says. Whynman adds, "It's a great opportunity for artists to showcase their talents." The bird structures themselves must be completed by December 15th, so that they can be photographed and displayed way in advance of the event, via web sites, newspaper articles, and the auction program, which will list the artists with their e-mail and web site.

Participating artists will be asked to submit a minimum bid price; although of course all proceeds will go to the two organizations. There is a way for non-artists to take part in the event, too: sponsorships are available for the event, in categories from Nest Egg ($3,000 USD) to Just Ducky ($100 USD). Sponsors' names will be featured in publicity and in the Casitas de Aves program for the event.

For information and for details, artists and/or sponsors may call or e-mail Alice Sperling at 154-7177 or alicesperling@hotmail.com; Linda Whynman at 152-2139 orvellum1@mac.com; or Naomi Zerriffi at 154-9553 or nzerriffi@yahoo.com