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When,
Where and Why Do Monarchs Form Roosts?
Looking for Clues from the Field
Migrating monarchs rest at overnight roosts at the end of the day. Imagine finding a roost in your hometown, with hundreds or thousands of butterflies! How might roosting help monarchs survive the migration? Read the selected observations below and look for clues. Or, read current observations in the database and/or by clicking on the map. When & where did people find roosting monarchs? What might these observations tell us?
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| Photos Courtesy of Connie Johnson | ||
Selected
Observations
08/31/05
Oakville, ON (43.27 N, -79.41 W)
A number of small clusters of roosting monarchs as well as many individuals
in the trees overlooking Oakville Harbour, on the NW shore of Lake Ontario.
The town has many plantings of Butterfly bush here. There were some still
nectaring.
08/30/05
Winnebago, IL (42.28N, -89.24W)
This was AMAZING! There had to be thousands of Monarchs roosting along
an alfalfa field. The field also has clover. The roost extended along
about a 1/2 mile grove of trees. Some of the trees were box elder but
most were maybe 40-50 foot tall choke-cherry trees.. At first we thought
thre were hundreds--but the roost went on, and on, and on--with hundreds
in each tree. How beautiful. They were all on the south side of the trees.
Little wind- maybe 10-15 miles or so.
08/29/05
Sioux Falls, SD (43.54 n, -96.72 W)
We're seeing hundreds clustering in a few familiar sites in the Sioux
Falls/Harrisburg, SD area. We are finally seeing numbers of migratory
monarchs again here in eastern South Dakota. Our "drought" of
the last two years is apparently over. In the last two days we tagged
nearly 600! We aren't getting the calls in town like we used to (West
Nile spraying?), but nearby towns and rural areas are calling and it's
like the old days when you could easily get 20 or more in a single sweep
of the net!
08/29/05 Spencer, IA (43.15 N, -95.13 W)
Approximately 60 monarchs are roosting in our grove. Tagged 25. Many appear
young, fresh color and wings.
08/29/05
Sioux Falls, SD (43.54N, -96.72W)
I live in the country outside of city limits. I discovered hundreds of
monarchs randomly flying and choosing a roost for the night in my grove
of trees (ash, maple, & Black Hills Spruce). Weather facts for the
day: Sunrise 6:49am Sunset 8:05 pm Low temp 53 High temp 84; 0 precipitation,
Wind north. I have never seen so many on the property before. I do have
a large flower garden. Could that be the attraction? They remain on the
property this morning - randomly flying.
08/28/05
Brooklyn Park, MN (45.00 N, -93.33 W)
Observed one small group of monarchs roosting in a young ash tree's branches.
There were 60 to 70 monarchs roosting at dusk with a few more straggling
in out of the northeast. All of these migrants were roosting together
on the same branches and the east side of the tree. This tree was in the
midst of many large pines and located adjacent to the same nectar-laden
field where my kids had been netting and tagging earlier that weekend.
We have had high temps in the 70's and lows at night in the upper 50s.
08/28/05
Rosebush MI (43.68 N, -84.78 W)
I sighted over 100 and possibly more monarchs in our trees. We have many
trees on our property and noticed them 2 days ago (8/26/05). As of tonight
they were still here. I don't know their flight path and if they have
been here before. We have lived here for sometime now and haven't noticed
them before. I was so excited about it that I wanted to learn more about
what they really are doing.
08/27/05 Raymond, MN (45.02 N, -95.18 W)
For the past few days we have observed thousands of monarch butterflies
in our windbreak and grove.
08/26/05
Hassan, MN (45.18 N, -93.58 W)
Approximately 40 monarchs spotted in small roostings on oak and birch
trees this morning. It was raining heavily when I checked on them at 6am.
Each group had chosen branches well protected by the canopy, and some
distance into the woods rather than on the perimeter of the yard where
I usually find them.
08/26/05
Cannon Falls, MN (44.47 N, -92.81 W)
Very exciting monarch year. Largest numbers at my location in many years.
We’re seeing strong, tight roosts on 08/21 through 08/24. Each night
it was 55°f or lower. It seems 55°f and lower really encourage
the concentrated roosts. Each day there are thousands nectaring on the
flowers. On the warmer nights they roost in the trees as singles or groups
of 5 or less. I've been experimenting with finding roosts. I have found
several by looking for overgrown fields or ditches with many flowers blooming.
I then look for the nearest groups of trees. I return in the evening or
early morning. So far I have had success at 4 out of 5 locations. I think
the key to finding roosts is finding the nectar source. Even when migrating
hard monarchs seem to stop for a sip.
08/23/05
Campbell, MN (46.12 N, -96.44 W)
I have had a lot of butterflies in my yard the last few nights. Last night
(8/23/05) I had about 550 roosting in the trees surrounding my house.
Tonight (8/24/05) there were about 900. I have been keeping track of the
number in my yard each night (except when I'm out-of-town) from about
August 15 to Sept 20 for the last several years. Here is the number of
butterflies roosting in my yard from Aug. 15 to Aug. 24 from 2001 to this
year.
Butterflies Roosting Aug. 15 - Aug. 24
2001 - 2700
2002 - 59
2003 - 69
2004 - 1
2005 - 2080
The Monarch population has certainly rebounded in my area. So far they
don't seem very interesting in heading south (even on calm nights or North
wind they are clustering in my yard). I expect that as soon as the wind
comes out of the north again they will be off towards Mexico. It is sure
fun to see numbers of butterflies again.
08/23/05 Watertown, SD (44.91 N, -97.17 W)
We first noticed monarch butterflies on Tuesday, 8/23/05 and they are
gone this morning (Saturday, 8/26/05). We had rain and cooler weather
last night. There were hundreds of butterflies in our shelter belt. They
stayed in one area and always returned to the same trees.
08/22/05
Cambridge, ON (43.38 N, -80.32 W)
Ontario butterfly enthusiast John Powers reported tonight that he visited
a 5 acre field of alfalfa and clover near Cambridge, Ontario - about one
hour west of Toronto. John estimated that there were approximately 2,000
adult monarchs nectaring in this field. At the south side of this field
was a row of pine trees, upon which the monarchs were roosting as the
day ended.
Reported by Don Davis, Toronto, Ontario
08/21/05
Northfield, MN (44.47 N, -93.15 W)
I see the Monarchs here every summer at this time, clinging from the trees.
Today I saw up to 22 butterflies per branch. This location is relatively
high, on a hill over a river valley. They show up on the maple trees more
than the others.
08/21/05
Victoria, MN (44.86 N, -93.65 W)
20-30 monarchs are nectaring on Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera) during
the day, and roosting at night on Bur oak and maple trees.
