The
Migration to Mexico is Underway!
Fall weather continues to factor in to the monarch’s migration
plans. As reported this week, winds out of the south put the migration
on hold, but when they later blew from the north the monarch’s
behavior changed. Watch the weather and predict what will happen
next.
9/6/06
Bath, NY ( 42.35N, -77.34W)
It was one of the most magnificent things I have ever seen.
We were watching a storm come in from the north. We noticed
several
monarchs flying and as we looked higher there were billions of
them. It was a beautiful site… There were billions of them
traveling the same wide path, following each other... it lasted
for some time. Neither I, nor anyone I know have experienced anything
like it.
8/26/06
Rochester, NY(43.17 N, -83.77W)
Counting a massive Cedar Waxwing flight in Rochester,
NY, approximately 15,820 Cedar Waxwings moved through the area,
but I did make an attempt to count the Monarchs as there were thousands
moving that day also. I estimate over 20,000 Monarchs moved through;
at any given time I could do a 360 degree scan and count 300+ Monarchs.
The
migration may have already peaked across eastern Canada:
8/22/06
Thorton, ON (44.16 N, -79.43W)
This was the last day that I saw monarchs roosting in
my maples. The week before was cooler than normal with winds
out of the east and southeast.
The butterflies changed their roosts to the north sides of
the trees still choosing lower branches and
clustering in groups of 10 to 200. When the wind returned
to its usual west, north-west direction, the butterflies were
gone. On Tues. Sept 5th there was a solitary butterfly around
6:30 pm, searching the regular roost sites, almost landing
then moving on. Reports from the Midwest show
the migration is picking up:
9/3/06
Algona, IA (43.06 N, -83.77W)
Today, I have been sitting on the deck and watching Monarchs flying south, one
about every 30 seconds to 1 minute.
9/3/06
Ada, OH (40.78 N, -83.77W)
There are literally THOUSANDS of Monarchs in a variety of trees in my aunt's
orchard! They are beautiful! I first thought they were bats because they are
so numerous. What an AMAZING sight to see! 8/25/06
Chicago, IL (41.88 N, -87.62W)
In downtown Chicago, I witnessed a large Monarch working its way south through
the canyons of buildings at the 7th floor level. Throughout the entire weekend
I witnessed a few hundred more, all individual sightings, meandering relentlessly
through the concrete jungle. It was thrilling and inspiring.
9/3/06
Hannibal, MO (41.78 N, -92.10W)
Must have been
50+ monarchs, also noticed several through out the town and along the roadways-
way more than I've seen in IA. They were nectaring on anything yellow
and drinking water & sunning
themselves on the brick of the splashing fountain. What are the chances that
they migrate south via the Mississippi River, following all the tributaries
that dump into the MS River?
9/3/06
Lyons, NE (41.96 N, -96.45W)
As of today, 9-5-06 they are
still at our farm and we estimate them to number several thousands. They
roost in the cedar trees and pine trees at night and when they get warmed
up in the morning they fly. They have come to this farm for many years but
this is the first time we have noticed so many.
9/4/06
Shawno, WI (44.79 N, -88.62W)
On Monday, September 4th,
my wife and I spent 5 hours tagging monarchs. They were more plentiful, but
not at peak migration yet. We walked a lot of miles up and down a large field
of clover and alfalfa. The monarchs were all over, and we hardly had to walk
at all. At one time I had 3 monarchs in my net waiting to be tagged. It looks
like the migration in this area of Wisconsin is starting to heat up. It is
about 1 week later than the past 5 years. We are going to have a cold snap
this weekend (temps in the 60s) so it will be interesting to see what happens
to the migration.
Let’s keep watching to see if the migration in the middle of the continent
is later than normal this year as the reporter from Shawano, WI suggests.
What’s happening in YOUR neighborhood? |