12 October - 18 October 2020
Dear fellow flock of birders,
What were the birds doing this past week?
What were the birds doing this past week?
This week the sunny and warm days but chilly nights urged monarchs to hurry to reach the safety of their overwintering groves! As they near the end of their journey, monarchs have been sighted in Arizona and California moving towards the California coast or south through Arizona towards Mexico.
Since the mid-1960s Amistad National Recreation Area, part of the United States’ system of National Parks, has provided a “desert oasis
This week monarchs are still being reported in all the Western states except Washington as they journey towards their overwintering destinations. They are now appearing in larger numbers in Arizona and California, expanding towards the West and some also to the South. Favorable conditions of warm and sunny days are helping monarchs on their way.
Sightings this week were scattered across the lower Western states as monarchs continue their determined flight moving through the area. Longer nights and gradually cooling days are encouraging monarchs to hurry on their way.
I encourage all of you to get outside and take a walk or come to the Arb and take a hike. There are so many changes occurring. I'm sure you will feel better.
So what's happening to our avian friends?
Small numbers of monarchs are continuing to appear as they move towards the overwintering grounds in California and Mexico in the West this week. The largest number of monarchs is in California and they are still breeding. Monarch larvae and eggs are still in Utah in a surprising location.
Monarchs on the move!
Monarch sightings in the West continue and Citizen Scientists are reporting monarchs throughout the West this week except the state of Washington. Meanwhile Southern California continues to see good numbers of monarchs as they have the entire summer.
Western Sightings