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Observations from Citizen Scientists in California

It is simply facinating to watch thousands of butterflies fly through my backyard. I've been sitting on the patio for over 2 hours and they just keep coming. They are all heading for my Mineola (tangelo) trees that are in full blossom. The butterflies are just beautiful.

March 25, 2009 San Jose, California
"I saw a big group of butterflies flying north for about an hour and a half."

March 24, 2009 San Jose, California
"This is the third year that we are seeing the monarch migration. We are so fortunate the be able to sit in our backyard and watch the monarchs fly over. As of this time (3:21 p.m.) we are seeing 20 to 40 per minute."

March 24, 2009 Morgan Hill, California
"Hundreds of monarchs have been flying past my house all day long traveling north."

March 21 Tulare, California
"We saw hundreds of monarchs today headed west. They are small/medium in size."

March 21, 2009 Fresno, California
"I counted over 300 monarch butterflies. Their bodies are approximately 1 inch in size."

March 21, 2009 Fresno, California
I have observed hundreds of monarchs in flight today and yesterday.

March 21, 2009 Sonora, California
"We encountered hundreds of migrating monarchs flying eastward. What a magnificent sight!"

March 19 Oceano, California
Many millions of monarchs were observed traveling North along Pacific Coast Highway through downtown Oceano today.

March 22 Copperopolis, California
"I was just outside and counted 12 monarchs in less than 30 seconds."

March 23, 2009 Livermore, California
Three to four dozen Painted Ladies spent several hours feeding on my rosemary groundcover yesterday afternoon, Mar 23. They are gone today.

March 22, 2009 Hollister, California
I saw thousands of monarchs fly over my house, coming from the southeast going northwest in about an 8 hour period.


March 12 Rosamond, California
Thousands of monarchs are here!

March 17 Bakersfield, California
Lots of monarch butterflies flying relatively low (about 9 feet above ground) one by one, increasing in number around 4 p.m.

March 19 Santa Margarita, California
Large numbers of monarchs have been flying North through our town all day.

Observations from Citizen Scientists in Texas

03/24/109 San Angelo TX 31.5704 -100.5212
I saw 2 Monarchs in my yard,they were large and colorful as they flew among the spring flowers.It was a joy to see them.

03/24/109 Rockwall TX 32.8745 -96.4062
We were just checking our milkweed status and saw an adult male stuggling in the wind. First sighting for us!

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03/23/109 Pilot Point TX 33.3336 -96.9107 Heavy south winds at 7:00 p.m. I saw first Monarch of the season trying to land in our ash tree for an overnight roost. He would be blown back but would skillfully dive low and then up again once behind the tree cover.

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03/23/109 Eagle Pass TX 28.5830 -100.2559 One slightly faded male headed due east at a goodly clip across my back yard. One week later than sightings last year.

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03/23/109 Abilene TX 32.4809 -99.6825
Was taking a break outside at work and saw a beautiful large Monarch wandering around the measley flowers we have outside our office (which happen to be weeds actually). He/She was beautiful. Flew right by me. Love to see a healthy Monarch on its way back from winter in Mexico. A real thrill.

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03/23/109 Fort Worth TX 32.7583 -97.3279 The kids at East Forth Worth Montessori have spotted several adult Monarch's flying around our garden today.

03/22/109 Bronte TX 31.8744 -100.3440
Two large Monarch butterflies were sighted flying around the Bronte school pond in the afternoon around 3:00 p.m.


more update 1237840550 03/22/109 Farmers Branch TX 32.9238 -96.8897 A single monarch stopped for a snack in my back yard yesterday. I could hardly believe my eyes because it was so large and seemed to be sampling several flowers, in no hurry to move on.

more update 1237830534 03/22/109 Crowley TX 32.5902 -97.4047 Saw several adults nectaring in some open fields while out running late Sunday afternoon.


more update 1237850752 03/21/109 Clyde TX 32.2932 -99.5326 The monarchs began coming through on Saturday! I saw 6 throughout the day! it was beautiful!

more update 1237749565 03/21/109 Mentone TX 31.8491 -103.5795 One lone Monarch was fl;ying along the Pecos River in Reeves County about 4 miles south of Hwy 302. It is very dry and there is no milkweed anywhere in the vacinity.



more update 1237730285 03/21/109 Yoakum County TX 33.1667 -102.8333
I saw one monarch while watching today for 3.5 hours in Yoakum County.

03/20/109 San Antonio TX 29.4693 -98.5280 I have seen two monarchs in my yard in the last several days. The dates were March 20,2009 and March 23, 2009.


more update 1237836274 03/20/109 Lampasas TX 31.1063 -98.2298 My daughter and I were leaving our house on Friday. She spotted the monarch on the flowers along our sidewalk. The monarch hovered around the flowers for several seconds - drinking from 2 or 3 different flowers. We obviously disturbed its drinking and it flew away. It would have to find a milkweed plant somewhere else. We don't have any milkweed yet; it's been extremely dry.


more update 1237784909 03/20/109 Taylor TX 30.5812 -97.5128 We were visiting Friday in Taylor ,TX and saw 5-6 Monarchs in the afternoon.

more update 1237692533 03/20/109 Arlington TX 32.6454 -97.1558 Arlington, TX. One seen on 20th flying through suburban property. Two more on 21st. We never seem to get the large nos., but it's always a treat to see those that we do. Our recently planted milkweeds are blooming.


more update 1237667711 03/20/109 Glen Rose TX 32.2105 -97.7912 one monarch feeding at road side flowers, working south against the wind.


more update 1237598905 03/20/109 San Angelo TX 31.5704 -100.5212 At 7:45pm this evening the first north bound Monarch was seen at my home in Grape Creek, Texas. This community is 10 miles north west of San Angelo, Texas.

I think most of the Monarch's flight path will be east of me along a line from San Antonio to Austin. I was surprised to see the one because we do not have very much green vegetation; to dry.