Correo Real is a Profauna program founded in 1992 by Rocio Treviño. Correo Real focuses on recording monarch observations in the northern states of Mexico. Most of the observations come from volunteers in Coahuila and Nuevo León (Oberhauser et al. 2015). Correo Real’s network of citizen scientists has over 200 volunteers. Like Journey North, students in Coahuila and Nuevo León are very involved in the project, but reports from others have been increasing since 2003 (Oberhauser et al. 2015).

Observers report the number of monarchs they witness; the time, location and date of their observations; the type of behavior the monarch is exhibiting; plants in the area; and the temperature and other weather conditions. Correo Real was integrated into the program of Natural Protected Areas in Mexico. While Correo Real has a major focus on monitoring and citizen science, part of the project’s mission to provide training, curriculum and education materials to community education programs in parks, cities and schools in Northern Mexico (Oberhauser et al. 2015). This also strengthens the capabilities of environmental educators on issues related to the monarch butterfly.

Recently Correo Real has participated in the monitoring network Reporta Monarca, motivating students, teachers, environmental advocates and the general public to participate in the national monitoring network. Through this program Correo Real also provides training to ejidos and communities to carry out monitoring of butterflies during migration. The training is free and the monitors funded through PET or Procodes programs have participated in Correo Real training workshops. Semarnat, Conanp and the Ministry of Environment of Coahuila may partner workshops, forums, or ecological fairs (Treviño 2016). Correo Real is also extensively involved in the Journey North Symbolic Migration program, particularly coordinating the logistics on the Mexican side of the border.

• Oberhauser, K.S., L. Ries, S. Altizer, R.V. Batalden, J. Kudell-Ekstrum, M. Garland, E. Howard, S. Jepsen, J. Lovett, M. Monroe, G. Morris, E. Rendón-Salinas, R.G. RuBino, A. Ryan, O.R. Taylor, R. Treviño, F.X. Vollablanca, and D. Walton. 2015. Contributions to Monarch Biology and Conservation through Citizen Science. In: Monarchs in a Changing World: Biology and Conservation of an Iconic Butterfly,S. Oberhauser, K.R. Nail, and S. Altizer, Eds. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
• Young-Isebrand, E., K.S. Oberhauser, K. Bailey, S. Charest, B. Hayes, E. Howard, J. Lovett, S. Meyers, E. Mollenhauer, E.B. Montesinos, A. Ryan, O.R. Taylor, and R. Treviño. 2015. Environmental Education and Monarchs: Reaching Across Disciplines, Generations, and Nations. In: Monarchs in a Changing World: Biology and Conservation of an Iconic Butterfly, K.S. Oberhauser, K.R. Nail, and S. Altizer, Eds. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
• Rocio Treviño. 2016. Correo Real, Profauna AC. Personal communication.

Keywords: citizen science, students