Here are a few of this week's observations. Read the comments and calculate the migration rate for each. Record this fall's most impressive observations on your Fall 2006 Record Sheet. Add your favorites to your own Migration Highlights Map. (Don't forget: You can collect more observations from our migration maps and weekly updates.) Please report your sightings!

9/21/06 Bluefield, WV (37.29 N, -81.22 W)
We counted 37 butterflies in 15 minutes going over our playground at school.

9/20/06 Unity, ME (44.59 N, -69.34 W)
We will wait to confirm that this is peak migration. But today on three occasions we determined that monarchs are indeed migrating. We noted them from ground level to as high as we can see with unaided. We counted them at a rate of 50 butterflies per hour.

9/19/06 Philipsburg, PA (40.86 N, -78.16 W)
During lunch recess, our kindergarten class saw 16 Monarch butterflies soar over our playground in the span of 20 minutes! Some were flying in pairs, but most were singles.

9/19/06 Atchison, KS (39.52 N, -95.14 W)
Our 4th and 5th grade class walked around the building today. Between 1:25 and 1:35 we were able to spot 5 monarchs. They were low to the ground.

9/18/06 Atchison, KS (39.52 N, -95.14 W)
We are 3rd grade students at Atchison Elementary School in Atchison, Kansas. Our class went outside at 1:10 and observed for 10 minutes. During the 10 minutes were spotted 9 monarch butterflies!

9/18/06 Kansas City, MO (39.10 N, -94.60 W)
I traveled south by car for about 30 miles. I counted over 100 Monarchs drifting and fluttering along, going in a southerly direction.

9/18/06 Kansas City, MO (39.10 N, -94.60 W)
A morning filled with Butterflies! On my 20 minute morning walk I observed 50 Monarchs. Returning to my yard, I sat down and for an hour observed a wonderful flight - 175 Monarchs. Most of them are sailing high above the rooftops and treetops, but a few have dropped down to feed on the flowers. As I write this at 11:10 am, I can see 5 in my yard now!

9/18/06 Shawnee Mission, KS (39.02 N, -94.66 W)
As I was driving from one of my schools to the other, only a mile or so, I saw at least 50 monarchs crossing the street within a 10 minute period. They were flying low and not stopping to eat. They were definately not "riding" the wind, which may be why they were so low.

9/16/06 York, PA (39.96 N, -76.72 W)
We were parked at the athletic field at York College, PA, from 2 -3:30 pm. Monarchs flew over the sidewalk in front of us from East to West at the rate of one approximately every five minutes.

9/13/06 Kalona, IA (41.46 N, -91.70 W)
We noticed Monarchs migrating through our playground at the rate of one per minute. The children were very excited to see this!

9/13/06 Lincoln, NE (40.82 N, -96.71 W)
We witnessed approximately 50 Monarch butterflies heading South in SE portion of Lincoln, Nebraska. We watched about 15 minutes or a little more as they were flying in pairs or singles.

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