Here are a few of this week's observations. Read the comments and calculate the migration rate for each. Add your favorites to your own Migration Highlights Map. Record this fall's most impressive observations on your Fall 2005 Record Sheet. (Don't forget: You can collect more observations from our migration maps and weekly updates.)

9/22/05 Cape May, NJ
A great day for monarchs at Cape May, NJ . . . our best of the season to date! Northwest winds in the morning brought in large numbers of monarchs. Although the winds shifted into the south in late morning, reducing the rate of incoming monarchs, hundreds of monarchs were seen nectaring throughout the day around Cape May Point. Three census runs yielded a total of 296 monarchs. (Assume each census run takes 20 minutes.)

09/21/05 Hallsville, MO (39.09 N, -92.23 W)
Every day at recess from 1:30-2:00 pm we see 1 or 2 monarch butterflies.

09/20/05 Prairie City, IA (41.55 N, -93.25 W)
Migrating monarchs continue to be sighted at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. This morning, in an hour and one-half, more than 80 monarchs were observed nectaring on sunflowers, thistles, and clover.

09/19/05 Mystic, CT (41.36 N, -71.97)
Every year for the past 10 years we have observed monarch migrations. This year we've noted a record number of monarchs. It has restored our hopes. This past weekend I traveled to Ocean Grove, New Jersey. I was thrilled to count a monarch a minute headed south.

09/19/05 Kansas City, MO (39.10 N, -94.60 W)
Observed Monarchs from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. In that time the weather went from clear skies to heavy clouds and thunderstorms. Temperature was in the 80's with shifting breezes from the south then the north. I was amazed to think that these butterflies floating through my yard or swooping down to nectar on my flowers could have been born in Canada, Minnesota, Iowa or Missouri, and now each was on its way to Mexico

• 11:00 am to Noon - 9 Monarchs
• Noon to 1:00 pm - 25 Monarchs
• 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm - 6 Monarchs

09/18/05 Luray, VA (38.65 N, -78.46 W)
Driving along Skyline Drive in Virginia in the area near Luray, I saw twenty plus monarchs in an hour nectaring and flying in a southerly direction along the top of the mountain ridge.

09/18/05 Trafalgar, IN (39.37 N, -86.19 W)
Standing in our yard near Morgantown, Indiana, my husband and I saw 25 Monarchs per 15 minutes this morning! Some were lower, bust most were 60 - 100 feet elevation, traveling in a south, south-westerly direction. What a marvelous site!

09/18/05 Southboro, MA (42.38 N, -71.42W)
On Sunday afternoon (9/18/05) from about 3 - 4, I counted about 50 Monarchs hovering over an open field in Southboro nectaring on the clover. It was sunny and about 75ºF. How exciting to see so many Monarchs!

09/17/05 Big Spring, TX (32.28 N, -101.44 W)
At Big Spring State Park there were 6 individuals between 8 & 11:30 am.