Date: 05/16/2006

Number: 1

We were bird-watching in the Lake City park named Hok-si-la. At about 1 p.m. a large monarch butterfly flitted by us as we sat at picnic tables overlooking the Mississippi River. It seemed early, to us, to see a monarch.

I realize that this sighting is early, I usually don't look for monarchs before June first each year. I was quite surprised to see a monarch this early, and made very sure of the identification before deciding to report it. I've been raising monarchs for about four years now, from egg to adult, so am very familiar with this species.

The butterfly was called to my attention by another member of our birding party, who called, "There's a monarch," and I was able to approach within about 3 feet. It was not a painted lady, viceroy or swallowtail: it was a large, orange and black butterfly with the veining of a monarch and the border patterning. I wasn't able to catch a glimpse of the vein closest to the body to ascertain whether it was a female or male, but I can swear that it was a monarch. The butterfly was moving very quickly, in a northerly direction along the river, and none of us had a camera, so have no photographic evidence.

This sighting was at a city park about 68 miles south of my home, in Lake City, Minn., and I noted no milkweed in the park. Back at home, I have milkweed plants emerging from the soil, but they're a long way from leafing out or blooming. Wouldn't it be possible for a male monarch to be surviving on flower nectar and not feeling a need to find milkweed for the laying of eggs?

Lake City, MN

Latitude: 44.4 Longitude: -92.3

Observed by:
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