Point Pelee is a migration hotspot on Lake Erie. It's a peninsula that stretches 9 miles out into the lake. Monarchs wait there before attempting a 35-mile crossing. On days with offshore winds, monarchs can hitch a ride and take a shortcut across the Great Lakes. On August 30th, Darlene Burgess watched as monarchs lifted off over the lake and traveled out of view.

"Observed 53 monarchs come from the north on East Beach at Tip & journey south out over Lake Erie & out of view. At about 12:15 the wind changed directions to SW at which time a few monarchs flitted toward the Tip but instead returned to trees."