Date: 04/28/2006

Number: 1

I have received a report from Point Pelee National Park that faded, worn, migrating monarchs were seen in the park last week (last week of April 2006). The observer is a very reliable observer and extremely skilled naturalist, so I have no doubt that the report is accurate," wrote Don Davis from Toronto.

Later he forwarded this first-hand observation made by Alan Wormington

"Here at Point Pelee on Lake Erie (Ontario), we have seen several Monarchs this past week, all of which have been very worn. This is typical condition of any that we ever see here during the period of late April to mid May; such individuals are sometimes seen into late May and early June.

One very worn female today was egg-laying on the first shoots of Common Milkweed, barely
sticking one inch out of the ground. Today's
egg-laying is certainly early for this area, since
most years we don't even see our first Monarch until
maybe May 8-12 on average.

.

A few years ago, during four hours of observation in the fall migration, experienced naturalists estimated that during these four hours 500,000 migrating monarchs passed out of the park at the point and out over Lake Erie. Point Pelee National Park is also the crossing over point of two major bird flyways.

Thanks to naturalist Don Davis for forwarding this report and information.

Point Pelee National Park, ON

Latitude: 42 Longitude: -82.5

Observed by:
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.