Peak in Maine
After so few monarchs migrating through the Maine Coast in 2013, it was delightful to make the following observations on September 18th:

• 100 + nectaring migrating monarchs
• The majority were males; 2 out of every 12 were females.
• The females tagged or observed were pristine. Approximately 50% of the males were tattered, small pieces of their wings torn, looked like bird predation.

We also observed the "cloud effect" behavior seen often in Mexico, which perhaps is a more general phenomenon:

When the sun was behind a large cumulus cloud for 3 minutes or more, and the gardens became totally shaded, the monarchs departed from nectaring and flew up into the pines. When the sun came out again, they floated back down to the gardens and resumed nectaring.

Overall, it has been an impressive year in downeast Maine for the monarchs, there was ample milkweed late spring and summer, cool temperatures, enough rain, an abundance of native nectaring plants, and the summer was void of nor'easters or early hurricanes.
                              —Bonnie Chase and Bill Calvert

Bonnie Chase