Date: 09/01/2004

Number: 1

Migration Hotspot: Cape May, NJ

September 23, 2004 Update

Numbers of monarchs seen per hour are on the Cape May Monarch Census website for first 3 weeks . . . .As of this date, this year is the lowest 3-week running average for the study.

The last several days (with northerly winds) have actually been productive and we've been able to tag 100-200 monarchs/day.

Now in its 13th year, this annual migration census is providing a long-term record of migration patterns along the Atlantic Coast.

Located at the tip of a peninsula, monarchs funnel into Cape May where they often congregate in high numbers until the wind is right to make the over-water crossing.

Data for the Cape May Monarch Road Census is posted
on the Cape May Monarch Census website.

Migration highlight from Cape May (September 28, 2001)


"A major coldfront with winds from the north and northwest triggered one of the most dramatic MONARCH concentrations in several years. Bushes in the dunes at Cape May Point were vibrating with roosting Monarchs that had settled in and stopped migrating because of the strong winds. That evening and dawn the following day (September 29) were times to remember. Pooled sightings documented at least 70,000 monarchs."(More...)