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Monarchs can only survive in places where their needs are being met. Where are monarchs finding the food, water and shelter they need? Look for examples. Can you find ways that people are helping?

For Your Journal: Each week, choose your favorite monarch sighting and record your thoughts in your journal. >>

Observations from Citizen Scientists

Oct. 2 Hamline, Texas (33 N, -100 N)
The Monarchs have stopped in my backyard for about 15 years. They arrived on Thursday this week in full force. They were hanging upside down in my redbud tree and crepe myrtles. After dark, we kept hearing a strange noise and realized that they were hitting the window in our bedroom, trying to get inside the lamp that was on in my bedroom. I couldn't believe how hard they were hitting the window! I turned off the lights and watched TV in the dark so they wouldn't hurt themselves. The next day, I thought they would be gone, but most of them are still here.

Oct. 4, Vernon, Texas (34 N, -99 N)
We had thousands circling round and round our tennis court. We had sprinkler on low in our crape myrtle trees and they were flitting in it and sitting on the little limbs. Our cat was on the tennis court crying and crying and when we went to see about her, there must have been thousands of butterflies swirling around her. We have a picture of 17 or 18 on one tiny twig. This was on Saturday. Sunday we had very few. We saw them this way about 5 or so years ago, but never this many since then.

Oct. 5 Sanger, Texas (33 N, -97 N)
Observed several hundred monarchs on the north side of trees (where they were out of the south wind), a few flying to yellow flowers.

Oct. 4 Frederick OK (34 N, -99 N)
Hundreds of Monarchs flocking around the lawn sprinklers, roosting in the pecan trees and settling in the English ivy ground cover in our yard. People driving by and passing pedestrians would stop and look at the sight. Absolutely beautiful! It was amazing how they were able to fly against such strong winds.

Oct. 5, Kingfisher, OK (36 N, -98 N)
Wave 2- Unbelievable! 1,000-1,500 Monarchs found NE of town roosting and nectaring in a stand of old trees and crownbeard. Everywhere we walked flushed out 25-50 Monarchs. The wind has been blowing from the south since Friday. The Monarchs have been stalled here due to the strong southerly winds. The winds will change back to the north on Tuesday, and should send them on to Texas. Such a joy to see so many Monarchs in one place, but I'm sure the strong winds have been hard on them. Golden crownbeard is very vital for the Monarchs in Oklahoma this time of the year, when so much other vegetation is past its prime.

Can you find others?
Look for more examples of food, water, and shelter monarchs need (and find) during migration.

• You can find all observations reported this week in the sightings database and on the migration maps.