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Photos by Denise Gibbs
Chincoteague Monarch Monitoring Project
Assateague Island, Virginia
October, 2010
Monarchs on seaside goldenrod at dawn. Monarchs on seaside goldenrod at dawn. Monarchs on seaside goldenrod at dawn. Monarchs on seaside goldenrod at dawn.
Seaside goldenrod that was planted along the causeway spring 2009. Monarchs arriving at seaside goldenrod on the causeway, after battling their way across the water against west wind. Monarch that roosted in seaside goldenrod along causeway last night, October 5th, then stayed all day nectaring on it, October 6th. Monarch nectaring on seaside goldenrod that was planted along the causeway in spring 2009.
Monarchs on seaside goldenrod at dawn. Monarchs on seaside goldenrod at dawn. Monarchs on seaside goldenrod at dawn.

Monarchs on seaside goldenrod at dawn.

One of the planting sites of seaside goldenrod that was planted along the beach area in spring 2010.

 Monarch nectaring on the seaside goldenrod in the same patch. Seaside goldenrod that was just planted yesterday, October 5th, and marked with flags for daily watering. Overwash area between ocean and bay. This is a death-trap for migrating monarchs on days with strong winds out of W, WNW, NNW, NW. They have no wind buffer so get blown out to sea.
Monarchs on seaside goldenrod at dawn. Monarchs on seaside goldenrod at dawn.

Monarchs on seaside goldenrod at dawn.

 

 Monarchs on seaside goldenrod at dawn.
Pre-dawn monarch roost on seaside goldenrod, along ocean beach. Roosting monarchs on seaside goldenrod at first light (around 7am). Another monarch nectaring on seaside goldenrod that was planted along the causeway in spring 2009. Site of next spring's seaside goldenrod planting; Bayshore of Tom's Cove.