I have a much different view of the population status. The size of the fall migration in western Great Plains was large this year and I think it will contribute at least 4 hectares worth of monarchs to the overwintering sites in Mexico and that at least 2 more hectares worth will arrive from the more eastern portions of the USA. So I predict a total of between 6-9 hectares worth of monarchs will be measured at the overwintering sites in Mexico in Dec. (vs. Dr. Taylor's prediction of 2 - 3.5 hectares).