November Monarch Movements
People from a handful of U.S. states are continuing to observe monarch butterflies. If you're in the Southeastern U.S., we're especially keen on keeping an eye on the winter monarch activity. Reporting from the Monarch Biosphere Reserve, Estela Romero provides insights into monarch happenings in Mexico, including videos.
Eastern Monarch Population
In several Gulf states, the weather seemed favorable for monarchs to remain. Will these monarchs continue their migration to central Mexico? Only your reports will help us answer this question and many more like it. Please keep reporting.
Deborah in Lillian, AL: "Moved off of milkweed when I approached to take a photo. Flew to a nearby live oak up high. And returned to milkweed after I went back inside.
Two days ago a single Monarch was enjoying the milkweed. Note our temps dipped to freezing as a birdbath just 6' away from the milkweed had a skim of ice on it this morning. Pic was taken 9:40am when the sun started to come around the house to warm that area." (11/29/2023)Amy in Patterson, LA: "At about 3:30 pm I saw one adult Monarch nectaring on Black-Eyed Susans. I couldn't tell but I think it was a male. I have several Milkweed plants nearby and saw no eggs." (11/17/2023)
Gail in Wimberley, TX: "A large male monarch in pristine condition was nectaring on a huge bank of Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) at the Arnofsky Family Flower Farm located between the towns of Blanco and Wimberley in the Texas Hill Country. He would stop and nectar at these flowers, then swoop off to rest on the leaves of a nearby pecan before returning to the profusion of Mexican sunflowers. The weather was in the 60s (F), sunny, with a slight cool breeze." (11/24/2023)
On November 23, 2023, Donna in Francitas, TX was surprised to see ten monarchs on mistflower in her garden. Temperatures were only 56 degrees. Monarchs persisted until November 28, 2023. Monarchs continued to nectar heavily from mistflowers.
Lee in Granbury, TX: "Latest monarch that I have seen, ever." (11/25/2023)
Kathy in Montgomery, TX: "As I walked in our backyard I startled this female monarch resting/sunning on some grapevines. She flew a short distance to this branch of a nearby tree, where she continued to gather sunlight on her wings to warm up on a chilly morning. It was 11:30am, 60 degrees F, sunny, with 48% humidity, and a light wind from the NE. She had very fresh wings and may have been a newborn from somewhere in the nearby area. There are still some monarch caterpillars on native milkweed (Asclepias viridis) in our meadows." (11/24/2023)
Targeted Monitoring Effort Continues: Please Report Overwintering Monarchs in Southeastern U.S.
Journey North encourages volunteers to report winter monarch sightings in the Southeastern U.S. from December through March. If you live in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, we want to hear from you. See Instructional Flyer
From the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
El Rosario and Sierra Chincua Sanctuaries hosted opening ceremonies to welcome visitors to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. Estela Romero describes the festivities and monarch behavior.
Letter From Estela Romero: Celebrations As Monarch Sanctuaries Open
Carta de Estela Romero: Celebraciones por la apertura de los santuarios de la Monarca
Estela Romero also provides video footage from the Sanctuaries. Watch the action on the Journey North's YouTube channel. Enjoy!
Playlist: 2023-2024 Overwintering Season at the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Western Monarch Population
Observers in Arizona continue to report breeding and nectaring monarch activity.
Diane on Tempe, AZ: "I saw these two mating around 1pm in my yard. I have had monarch caterpillars of various instars in my yard for most of November. Today I counted four different cocoons. One butterfly emerged from a cocoon today. I have three species of Asclepias, two species of Gomphocarpus, and one species of Calotropis in my yard that serve as host plants." (11/28/2023)
Lynda in Litchfield Park, AZ: "Observed flying in my yard at 10:49 am on the date noted. Since I was able to capture a brief video, and using screen captures of moments in that video, I shared the same with those in Pollinator Gardening in the Southwest FB group to get opinions on M or F. Commenters (and my own guess) is that this is female. I’ll be watching for larvae among my milkweeds over the next few weeks. This particular event had a butterfly fluttering around my yard and the adjacent yards. Finally alighted on a rosebud, although it did visit most of the milkweed (Arizona, Rush/Desert, & Tropical) and lantana in my yard but I didn’t observe it alighting on any of those. After a similar previous female observation in Sept, I enjoyed 6 weeks of more than a dozen Monarch larvae, although no chrysalis were ever found." (11/26/2023)
Katie in Phoenix, AZ: "I had seen a single Monarch in this secluded wash between homes a few days prior. Today there were two maybe three Monarchs chasing and dancing in the sky. There were some Queens also present defending the territory." (11/22/2023)
Katie in Phoenix, AZ: "Monarch observed within Whitfull Nursery nectaring on potted flowers. Monarch was defending it's nectar flowers from Gulf Fritillarys and Queen butterflies." (11/21/2023)
Tracey in Mesa, AZ: "I have seen 2 landing on my milkweed, now have 3 caterpillars that I think are Monarchs." (11/21/2023)
