Journey North Monarch Butterfly Spring 2004

Sightings Reported from North Carolina
Reported Week of April 2-9, 2004

4/5/04: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
"My husband noticed a monarch in our yard as he was cutting our grass this afternoon. The yellow monarch was observed around 12:00 noon and was in flight approximately 1 or 2 feet off the ground, apparently in search of nectar. Weather was warm (about 70 degrees) and the wind moderate (about 10 mph out of the southwest). Wings appeared to be in good condition although the sighting was brief and lasted for only about a minute. I am not aware of the milkweed availability in my area."

4/4/04: Charlotte, NC
“Sighting at 3:53pm, large adult in very good shape and in good strong color. Flew around for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, then flew off. This monarch must be ahead of the milkweed, but we do have flower nectar. On a second sighting, which my wife and I saw, a monarch was on our flowers. The first sighting was a clear, warm day with no wind, and it did not land ... it just circled.”

3/24/04: Pantego, North Carolina
“I checked against your pictures and it was a larger monarch. It looked a little tattered. I was walking last week and it flew by and around us! I was surprised also. Maybe he decided to stay here for the winter. I have not seen another since. We do live in the coastal region and it is usually mild in the winter. However, we did have a colder than usual winter."