Date: 11/04/2002

Number: 1

As we watch, count, and net monarchs on the peninsula to the Lavaca Bay causeway we see clustering starting about half an hour before sundown. Tonight, just a few loose clusters of three, four, and five started on brush and small trees just above the high tide mark and a few minutes after sundown they had tightened up to about the size of a softball with six to ten in each. We counted about 300 monarchs in two hours this afternoon, netted about 75 for tag and release, most nectaring on wildflowers on the peninsula, a few approaching from the NE. There were many singletons that were down in the salt marsh grasses and weeds that would flush like quail when we walked by. We have seen no better clusters at the roosting trees near the edge of the bay than the seventy-five last week. We still wonder what it might be that causes that second, then third, and so, monarch to gather on the same leaves and cluster for the night, a scent? If so, how far can others detect it?

Port Lavaca, TX

Latitude: 28.5 Longitude: -96.7

Observed by: Harlen E.
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