Pollinator Pathways Poster Migration, Pollinators and Plant Identifications

What is Migration? From south to north and Del sur al norte y de Du sud au nord et de retour du back again, the miraculous retorno, las migraciones nord au sud, les miraculeuses seasonal migrations of North estacionales milagrosas migrations saisonnières des American pollinators in de los polinizadores Norte pollinisateurs d’Amérique du search of food, forage and Americanos buscando Nord en quête de nourriture nesting sites are fragile, awe- alimento y sitios de anidacion et de lieux de nidation sont When animals migrate, they travel long son fragiles e impresionantes fragiles. Ces migrations sont à Migratory birds typically follow geographic out more about pollinator tesoros. Para obtener mas migrations and the plants informacion sobre migraciones plus sur les migrations des they visit on their journeys, de polinizadores y las plantas go to www.pollinator.org. que visitan en sus viajes, vaya butinent lors de leurs voyages, distances in search of resources, and this 3 4a www.pollinator.org. aller sur www.pollinator.org. indicators including coastlines or mountain is called animal migration. For example, 5 ranges while avoiding large expanses the great herds of wildebeests and other 6 of open water. The specific routes can

rufous ungulates cross the Serengeti plains of 2 hummingbird be learned to some degree or may be monarch Africa in their constant search for new 2 genetically programmed. It’s believed by 1 ruby-throated grasses as food. 3 hummingbird 4 some scientists that intracellular magnetite Bird migrations are familiar behaviors crystals may help migrating birds and some lesser long-nosed to birdwatchers and naturalists. They are 1 bat 7 insects follow the faintest magnetic flux regular, seasonal journeys undertaken by lines along the earth from north to south. many bird species. They occur mostly in Others seem to have built in roadmaps. response to changes in food availability, 13 monarch In mammals, herding ungulates, habitat, or weather. The long distance 3 some whales, and a few bat species are

journeys made by birds are often called lesser 4 migratory. Whales, like the humpback, long-nosed 2 bat ruby-throated hum- 1 mingbird rufous “true migration” because they are hummingbird calf in waters off Baja, Mexico and feed in directional and occur seasonally each Alaskan waters. Nectar bats follow “nectar year along a flyway. About 2,000 of the 12 8 corridors” from southernmost Arizona, world’s 10,000 bird species are long Texas and California to areas in northern distance migrants. Common examples 9 and central Mexico, moving annually

Art and Design 10 by include Canada Geese, Swainson’s Thrush, 11 Steve Buchanan between breeding and feeding areas. Northern Pintail or the Bar-tailed Godwit. Among insects, most are sedentary, but

For northern hemisphere birds, the most AHPA there are some champion migrants. The common pattern involves species flying monarch butterfly is the most famous Ruby-throated hummingbird and the western Rufous north in the spring months to breed in the example, migrating from across Canada hummingbird. The tremendous energetic cost of moving temperate or Arctic summer, and returning to their starting and the United States southward, in a multi-generational across hundreds or thousands of miles between breeding point regions in the autumn to warmer wintering grounds migration ultimately leading to secluded and protective fir and feeding grounds seems to be worth the effort. in the south. Southern hemisphere migrants reverse this forests in the highlands of central Mexico. Similarly, painted Some birds migrate at night (e.g., flycatchers and pattern following the seasonal availability of food. The lady butterflies migrate, along with some dragonflies and hummingbirds) to minimize overheating or predation arctic tern has the longest distance migration of any bird, even a flower-visiting fly (Syrphidae) in the UK and Europe. risks, and feed by day. Prior to migrating, these animals up to 14,000 miles. For bees, only the Asian honey bee (Apis dorsata) is known fatten up for the journey. Along the way, many individuals Even tiny hummingbirds can migrate extremely to migrate, or emigrate from place to place. fall prey to predators or inclement weather, and perish. long distances as we’ll learn below for the eastern

www.pollinator.org Pollinator Identifications

1. Leptonycteris curasoae 2. Selasphorus rufus 3. Danaus plexippus 4. Archilochus colubris yerbabuena (Rufous hummingbird) (Monarch butterfly) (Ruby-throated hummingbird) (Lesser long-nosed bat)

Few of the world’s 1,240 bat species visit flowers These hummingbirds are pugnacious and tire- Monarch butterflies are truly long distance Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the most for nectar and even fewer make long distance lessly chase away other hummingbirds from migrants, up to 3,000 miles. In all the world, no commonly encountered hummingbirds in the migrations. During early summer across the their favored plants and perches, even during other butterflies migrate like the Monarchs of eastern United States, commonly appearing Sonoran desert of Arizona, New Mexico and migration. In the spring, these colorful and North America. Like a wave 1,000 miles wide, from to feed on colorful red garden flowers, or at Sonora, Mexico, hundreds of thousands of feisty little birds migrate up the Pacific coast of South Dakota to New York, Monarchs arrive in the sugar feeders on patios. They are eastern North charismatic Lesser long-nosed bats visit the the United States, passing through California spring and early summer in a massive northward America’s sole breeding hummingbird. By blossoms of giant cacti including the Saguaro, from February to May. The migrating birds migration out of central Mexico. There is a western early fall, they’re bound for wintering sites in Organ Pipe and Cardon, in turn, pollinating reach British Columbia in April, and Alaska by population in California that does not migrate southern Mexico or Central America. them. mid-April. During migration, they can be found as far south, stopping in central California. Even as high as 12,000 feet, feasting on nectar from more amazing is the fact that the usual Monarch Many of these living jewels cross the Gulf of These fast-flying flower visitors also visit the montane wildflowers. Some migrating Rufous migration is made up of individuals of several Mexico (30 to 50 miles wide) in a single flight! blossoms of century plants. When the fruit of also reach sites in Idaho and Montana around generations. Citizen scientists are banding Ruby-throats these cacti ripens in June, white-winged doves late April. Departure dates are often in October. and Rufous to learn about their comings and and nectar bats gorge themselves on the tasty The greatest distance covered by some Rufous In March, the spring migration begins. Tens of goings. red fruits. The Lesser long-nosed bat is federally individuals is nearly 4,000 miles. The humming- millions of Monarchs will overwinter in Oyamel listed as an endangered species by the U.S. birds are “following the bloom” along nectar fir trees in the mountains north of Mexico City. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered corridors consisting of tubular, mostly red and They leave en masse and head north, feeding on Species Act of 1973. Their use of only a few yellow nectar-rich blossoms. They also stop and nectar and laying eggs along the way. They live off Just so you know…. maternal roosting caves that are under habitat drink at manmade hummingbird feeders offer- their adult fat reserves all winter. There are only 12 pressure, along with human disturbance, pose ing sugar water. When not sipping nectar from mountaintops in the world where these colorful White-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) are extremely real risks for these gentle flower-visiting animals. blossoms, they feed on protein and oil-contain- orange, black and white butterflies overwinter. common birds in our southwestern deserts through Mexico, Pregnant females give birth to a single pup in ing small insects including fruit flies. The butterflies returning to Mexico or California Central America, and the Caribbean. With increasing May. They spend the winter in central Mexico each fall are the great-great-grandchildren of the urbanization and backyard feeding, their range has where mating also takes place. They roost in butterflies that left the previous spring. It remains expanded into Texas and Louisiana. Most populations caves or abandoned mines. “Nectar bats” feed a mystery how the butterflies navigate, homing are migratory, wintering in Mexico and Central America. on the nectar and pollen of columnar cacti in to find the precise mountain locations, and even They feed on various seeds, grains and fruits. They are Arizona and Sonora. In Tucson and a few other the same trees in Mexico where they spend their particularly fond of the large white blossoms, and red fruits, cities in southern Arizona, hummingbird feeders winter months. of the saguaro cactus. While often mentioned as saguaro are visited by day by hummingbirds while bats pollinators, it is more likely that the majority of pollination work the night shift! You can help conserve and protect Monarchs by is due to the foraging activities of honey bees and cactus planting milkweeds in your garden and not using bees by day, and nectar bats at night; the latter being herbicides or insecticides that could harm the more common in the southern portions of the range of the feeding caterpillars or adults. saguaro. www.pollinator.org Plant Identifications

1. Aquilegia formosa 6. Salvia splendens 11. Asclepias asperula (western columbine) (scarlet sage) (spider milkweed) Western columbine is native throughout north western A native to Brazil, scarlet sage’s attractive red Spider milkweed has evergreen North America and attracts a variety of pollinators with flowers provide nectar to the ruby-throated leaves and like many other milkweeds its brilliant red and yellow flowers including the rufous hummingbird and is used throughout supports monarchs both in larval stage hummingbird featured here. North and South America as an ornamental of life and thought adulthood. garden plant.

7. Monarda didyma 12. Abies religiosa 2. Lobelia cardinalis (scarlet beebalm) (oyamel fir) Not only are hummingbirds attracted to scarlet Eastern monarchs overwinter in Mexico and use (cardinalflower) beebalm, but it is valued by humans too. Scartlet Cardinalflower provides much needed nectar for the oyamel forests as their winter home. Monarchs form beebalm contains a high concentration of the active hummingbird migration in middle to late summer. large colonies that can reach into the millions in ingredient in many commercial mouthwashes. The large stalks of bright red successively blooming oyamel forests, sometime populations return to the flowers are hard to miss and support multitudes of exact site their relatives used the winter before. hummingbird along their journey. 8. Antigonon leptopus (coral vine) 3. Eupatoriadelphus maculatus Coral vine is native to Mexico (considered invasive in the US) and can thrive in variety of soil and light conditions, 13. Carnegia gigantea (spotted joe pye weed) making it a perfect garden plant in Mexico to welcome Spotted joe pye weed is native throughout (saguaro) hummingbirds and support their migratory journey much of the United States and Canada and The giant and majestic saguaro cactus can north from Mexico. supports adult monarchs with the nectar they live hundreds of years and provide habitat need to migrate thousands of miles every year. and shelter to numerous inhabitants of North America’s deserts. However, without pollinators this iconic plant would not be able to reproduce. The nocturnal lesser 9. Ochroma pyramidale long-nosed bat, featured here, pollinates 4. Asclepias incarnata the saguaro’s fragrant white flowers at night (West Indian balsa) since they are closed during the day. (swamp milkweed) West Indian balsa is native to southern Swamp milkweed, like many other milkweeds, Mexico, Central and South America and provide an essential larval food resource to attracts bats, like the lesser long-nosed bat young monarch butterflies and nectar to adult (featured here) that are attracted to its large monarchs preparing for their migration. white flowers.

5. Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides (white heath aster) 10. Fouquieria splendens White heath aster displays dense white daisy- (ocotillo) like flowers and provides nectar to numerous Native to the deserts of North America, butterfly species (including migrating ocotillo’s bright redish-orange flowers attract monarchs) and is a larval host for the pearl the migratory rufous hummingbird. crescent butterfly.