First monarchs reach Angangueo near overwintering sites; initial reports are in from Western Monarch Count

The first monarchs are completing their marathon migration, with Estela Romero sharing a video on Tuesday evening of monarchs in the skies above Angangueo, Michoacán. 

There is plenty more movement to come as monarchs funnel in and form their clusters in the oyamel fir trees, but you can see the video on the right for this season's first sight of monarchs near overwintering locations.

Additionally, there is a video from Estela with footage from Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), for which monarchs are important cultural symbols.

Most of the peak migration and roost reports at this point are in Mexico, though we do continue to receive reports of individual stragglers from as far north as New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

"The monarch butterfly continues to migrate through El Cielo Biosphere Reserve in Gomez Farias, Tamaulipas," Armando wrote (translated from Spanish) on Nov. 4, reporting 46 monarchs in just outside Ciudad Victoria.

In the same area, near Ciudad Victoria, Edson Joao estimated there were 10,000 monarchs in a recept report.

"Countless butterflies flying and a few more feeding on Anacahuita flowers," Edson Joao wrote, translated from Spanish. "It's crazy! So many butterflies are flying by, I couldn't even count them. It's a marvelous spectacle! My phone's camera can't capture the ones flying higher up to do justice to this beautiful migration."

In the coming weeks, we will keep an eye on Angangueo, one of the towns bordering the overwintering forests of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, as more monarchs begin to approach, though it's worth mentioning that the sanctuaries don't open to the public until Nov. 21, so we won't get a look at the colonies until at least that date.

Estela Romero is an environmental educator with Monarchs Across Georgia. Reporting from Angangueo, Michoacán, Estela Romero's work is made possible by funding from Monarchs Across Georgia and the Monarch Butterfly Fund. Estela Romero es educadora ambiental de Monarchs Across Georgia. Informando desde Angangueo, Michoacán, el trabajo de Estela Romero es posible gracias a la financiación de Monarchs Across Georgia y el Monarch Butterfly Fund.

Western Monarch Count update

The Xerces Society has provided a quick update on the Western Monarch Count, reporting that about 5,000 monarchs had been observed so far in coastal California, though reports were still coming in from the early count, which officially ended Nov. 2.

Last season's early-season count saw 7,601 monarchs counted, so we'll see where this year's number ends up when all is said and done.

As of Oct. 29, there were 1,100 monarchs at Natural Bridges near Santa Cruz, as well as 979 at Lighthouse Field on Nov. 1. A few other counts, according to the Xerces Society:

• An unspecified site in west Marin: over 500 monarchs
• Pismo State Beach, San Luis Obispo County: 235 on Oct. 29
• Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary, Monterey County: 63 on Oct. 30
• Gill Tract, Alameda County: 87 on Oct. 24

For the rest of this week's western update, Gail Morris has us covered, including a little information from some of the counters at these sites.

What else is happening throughout the West?

By Gail Morris, Southwest Monarch Study coordinator

Monarchs are continuing to arrive at the California overwintering sites after their long journey to a safe harbor for the colder season. Some monarchs passing through Arizona may be heading to Mexico as well.  In the next few weeks, they will lose their urge to migrate and settle in for the season. 

Monarch sighting reports were scattered and few in number in the lower southwest. Juniper was packrafting through the desert in Moab, Utah, and spotted two monarchs on October 23. 

Two more were seen by Val in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 3. Della reported one monarch in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 31, writing, “female monarch appeared on the blue mist flowers, good condition, mostly sipping nectar, 87F, sunny, no breeze.”  Linda noticed another on October 28 in her backyard in Tucson.

In Los Alamos, New Mexico, Marc reported a monarch on Nov. 5, writing, "Unseasonably warm stretch of weather continues. a little surprised to spot a Monarch this late in the season in this area."

More monarch reports are arriving from California as they near their final destinations. Razan saw an unusual sight on October 25: a monarch spending the night on their door screen. “Was noticed at night, around 11 p.m. PST.” Judy spotted a monarch in Oceanside on October 23, writing, “Very energetic. Stopped to get nectar.”  

Reports from the Field

Diana Magor, Santa Cruz, California:

The number of monarchs is increasing at both Lighthouse Field and Natural Bridges!

Lighthouse Field

On Oct. 30, at noon, Beth Bell and John Dayton counted 684. On Oct. 31, the rest of our team, Tara Johnson, Liana Crabtree, Diana & two new volunteers counted, and Tara reported 906, supported by photos. 

Nov. 1 at 8:30 a.m., I counted with a new volunteer, and my count, supported by photos, was 979. 

Almost all the east-facing trees have been abandoned in favor of trees near the west edge of the monarch grove, which are more protected from southerly winds, although it has been quite calm lately. This morning, 279 monarchs were counted on one of the frequently used cypress trees on branches facing west, where monarchs arriving from outside the grove frequently roost in the late afternoon sun, and end up staying there all night.

Virtually all the deep, dark, cool spots under the old eucalyptus trees in the west inside area had been abandoned, and the aggregations had shifted to adjacent young eucalyptus closer to the center of the grove and to the Monterey cypress mentioned above.

Natural Bridges and Moran Lake

On Oct. 24, Beth Bell and John Dayton surveyed Natural Bridges and counted 920 monarchs. On Oct. 29 they saw 1,100 at Natural Bridges, as well as 87 at Moran Lake on Oct. 27. 

We are happy to have several new trainee volunteers join us, and are looking forward to their contributions!

Stephanie Turcotte Edenholm, Pacific Grove, California: 

Our official count was a day early. While somewhat warmer, 54°F at 7:45 a.m., there was some high fog and quite a bit of moisture in the grove. We located the largest cluster (28), thus far, on the young eucalyptus tree on the south side of the habitat. There were two larger, mature eucalyptus trees, also in that area, with smaller clusters located on much higher branches. 

The eucalyptus along the hotel fence on the eastern end of the grove hosted 13 monarchs. There was only a single loner in the southwestern corner. The monarchs were spread across six different trees, two tree species today. 

In the last two days, there have been a handful of monarchs still flying around outside the grove, approximately 3/10 of a mile away, and several further along the coast. 

So, we continue to wait patiently for more to join the total of 63 monarchs we counted today, Oct. 30.

Monarch sightings needed

Seeing monarchs? Your sightings help us present a balanced and accurate report of where monarchs are appearing each week. Report adult monarchs, eggs, and larvae to Journey North. Your detailed description of what you see can include, but is not limited to, the monarch’s gender and activity. If known, include the type of flowers if they are nectaring or milkweed type if laying eggs. Photos are encouraged and welcomed with all your reports.

Gail Morris is the coordinator of the Southwest Monarch Study (www.swmonarchs.org). She is also a Monarch Watch conservation specialist, the vice president of the Central Arizona Butterfly Association, and participates in several western monarch working groups. The “Western Monarch News” is based on your comments provided to Gail Morris. We hope to increase the number of sightings, photos, and comments entered into Journey North. We rely on the volunteers who communicate regularly with Gail and participate in our effort to increase awareness of the population of western monarchs. You can reach her at gail@swmonarchs.org