September 20, 2016
Our family is on a boat trip around the Eastern U.S. and currently traveling down Lake Michigan. Unexpectedly, we saw several monarch butterflies early today and then started paying more attention and counted 158 butterflies in about a 50 mile run between Ludington and Grand Haven! Just thought it might be good info. We were sure surprised.

There were many more that 158 of course, but these were the ones we counted in a span of probably 2 hours from about 12-2 pm. (We traveled from about 10:30am-5:00pm, but most butterflies were spotted during that 2-hour timeframe.) Based on the timeframe and looking back at the map, I'd say we were close to Little Point Sable, Michigan. We were about a mile or less from shore.

The winds were variable, but mostly out of the south.  The monarchs were actually flying north which puzzled us. (But maybe we were moving faster south than they were and it seemed like they were going north?) They would flap like crazy with all their might and then would glide for a bit, but were mostly flapping.  I found it interesting that many were eye level with us on our fly bridge which sits about 15 feet above the water level.  And many were even higher, but only a few below the fly bridge.

We are on a 10-month boat trip and were on day 37 yesterday and were completely surprised by the event! It was wonderful!  A memory I will not forget and hopefully our kids will remember as well.  Here is a photo of us from a few weeks ago.

— Wendy Wilson

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