Date: 08/31/2003

Number: 1

6:30 pm, 70 degrees: sky still odd milky overcast. All day, tall gray cumulous clouds formed below it in rows. Rain is being pushed way north by the Gulf of Mexico's hurricane. Saw 1 monarch in garden & 1 crossed the road definately southbound. 3 monarchs flew up from south edge of catalpa grove, there were none in the whole meadow! 2 circled back with 1 heading south. It rose high & vanished. In the grove clearing, monarchs dropped steadily thru the trees from north/northwest singly or grouped. Often overshoting the roost, they quickly circled back,searching. How quickly they realized they had missed & how quickly they homed in! Scent, vibration, sight? Landing, they turn into "dead leaves" almost immediately using the same tree as last nights monarchs! Arrivals continued for 30 minutes. There was much wing flashing from "roosters" to warn incoming of from coming too close. Early dark? Changing barometer? What warns them to seek protection beneath big leaves?

Marne, MI

Latitude: 43.1 Longitude: -85.8

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