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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 2021)
Wednesday, March 3, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon xtinction Monarchs moves closer to extinction By Olga R. Rodriguez Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) 4 The number of western monarch butterflies winter- ing along the California coast has plummeted precipitously to a record low, putting the orange-and-black insects closer to extinction, research- ers announced last week. An annual winter count by the Xerces Society recorded fewer than 2,000 butterflies, a massive decline from the tens of thousands tallied in recent years and the millions that clustered in trees from Northern California9s Marin County to San Diego County in the south in the 1980s. Western monarch but- terflies head south from the Pacific Northwest to California each winter, returning to the same places and even the same trees, where they cluster to keep warm. The monarchs gener- ally arrive in California at the beginning of November and spread across the country once warmer weather arrives in March. On the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, another monarch population travels from southern Canada and the northeastern United States across thousands of miles to spend the winter in central Mexico. Scientists estimate the monarch population in the eastern U.S. has fallen about 80 percent since the mid- 1990s, but the drop-off in the western U.S. has been even steeper. The Xerces Society, a non- profit environmental orga- nization that focuses on the conservation of invertebrates, recorded about 29,000 butter- flies in its annual survey last winter. That was not much different than the tally the winter before, when an all- time low of 27,000 monarchs were counted. But the count this year is dismal. At iconic monarch wintering sites in the city of Pacific Grove, volunteers didn9t see a single butter- fly this winter. Other well- known locations, such as Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove and Natural Bridges State Park, only hosted a few hundred but- terflies, researchers said. <These sites normally host thousands of butterflies, and their absence this year was heartbreaking for volun- teers and visitors flocking to these locales, hoping to catch a glimpse of the awe-inspir- ing clusters of monarch but- terflies,= said Sarina Jepsen, director of endangered spe- cies at the Xerces Society. Scientists say the butter- flies are at critically low lev- els in western states because of destruction to their milk- weed habitat along their migratory route as housing expands into their territory and use of pesticides and her- bicides increases. Editor 9s note: Sisters resident Jean Nave and teacher Susie Werts have led local efforts to plant milk- weed for migrating monarch butterflies. Researchers also have noted the effect of climate change. Along with farming, climate change is one of the main drivers of the monarch9s threatened extinction, dis- rupting an annual 3,000-mile (4,828-kilometer) migration synched to springtime and the blossoming of wildflowers. Massive wildfires throughout the U.S. West last year may have influenced their breed- ing and migration, research- ers said. A 2017 study by Washington State University researchers predicted that if the monarch popula- tion dropped below 30,000, the species would likely go extinct in the next few decades if nothing is done to save them. Monarch butterflies lack state and federal legal protec- tion to keep their habitat from being destroyed or degraded. In December, federal officials declared the monarch butter- fly <a candidate= for threat- ened or endangered status but said no action would be taken for several years because of the many other species await- ing that designation. The Xerces Society said it will keep pursuing protection for the monarch and work with a wide variety of part- ners <to implement science- based conservation actions urgently needed to help the iconic and beloved western monarch butterfly migration.= People can help the color- ful insects by planting early- blooming flowers and milk- weed to fuel migrating mon- archs on their paths to other states, the Xerces Society said. Let us show you how much you can save this year! Call 541-588-6245, for a free quote! Sisters salutes... AFSC (Age Friendly Sisters Country) expresses a heart-felt thank you to John Griffith and Rendal Broomhead for their two- plus years of dedicated service to Sisters Country as founding board mem- bers and strategic leaders of AFSC. We also wish to thank Sharon Thorkildson for serving as our first volun- teer bookkeeper. Through their combined efforts, AFSC has become a via- ble nonprofit committed to launching grassroots projects that enhance the quality of life (AKA liv- ability) in our community. This is how the STARS (free medical transporta- tion service), and Sisters Villages (neighborhood based social/service) Action Teams got their starts. With a well-laid organizational NuggetNews.com is your online source for Breaking News Classifieds | Weather Road Reports MAR 3 257 S. Pine St., #101 MAR 5 FRI OUTLAWS LACROSSE MAR 9 TUES MAR 11 Youth grades 1-8 and high school grades 9-12. Shortened season. Current COVID guidelines will apply. For more details and to register: www.SistersRecreation.com THUR MAR 541-549-8198 WE DELIVER! HAPPY HOUR 3 to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday 175 N. Larch St. 541-549-6114 4 hardtailsoregon.com Facebook darcymacey Deschutes Public Library: How to Really Help Injured and Orphaned Wildlife 6:30 p.m. The Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory shares common encounters & experiences. Go to www.deschuteslibrary.org/calendar/. www.farmersagent.com/jrybka MAR 243 N. Elm St., Sisters OPEN 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Things to participate in online while staying safely at home. 4 HOUSEPLANTS! WE’RE BACK! Calendar THUR The place to go in Sisters for foundation in place, Ren and John are stepping back from board responsibilities. We are so grateful for their contributions. AFSC is happy to wel- come Peggy Tehan as our new board treasurer, tak- ing over the well-organized books that Sharon helped John set up. With room at the table, AFSC welcomes anyone with enthusiasm and a desire to contrib- ute to explore opportuni- ties by contacting AFSC at www.agefriendlysisters. com. Seven Days a Week WED Auto • Home • Life • Business 541-549-2091 1750 W. McKinney Butte Rd. Sisters 11 16 TUES Paulina Springs Books Virtual Event 6:30 p.m. Abby Schneiderman, Adam Seifer & Gene Newman share how to get organized from their new book, “In Case You Get Hit by a Bus.” For info call 541-549-0866 or go to www.paulinaspringsbooks.com. Deschutes Public Library: Central Oregon Bioregional Herbalism 2 p.m. Learn about local plants’ medicinal properties and ethical harvesting. Go to www.deschuteslibrary. org/calendar/. Deschutes Public Library: Wolves in the West 6 p.m. Wolf biologist Dick Theil details the eradication and return of the wolf in the West. Go to www.deschuteslibrary.org/calendar/. Deschutes Public Library: Wildfl owers of Oregon 6 p.m. Discover resources to aid in wildfl ower identifi cation with Damian Fagan, former National Park Service ranger and fi led biologist. Go to www.deschuteslibrary.org/calendar/. Deschutes Public Library: Pollinator Pathway and Native Bees of Central Oregon 3 p.m. Hear from local environmentalists about the Bend Pollinator Pathway launching this spring and how you can help pollinators. Go to www. deschuteslibrary.org/calendar/.