Date: 09/22/2006

Number: 1

Given the inconsistent rains and colder weather in the last week, I went searching at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge for migrating monarchs that might have been slowed on their trip south. In the north of the refuge, I counted 16 monarchs in an area where most of them were clinging to tall sawtooth sunflowers as the plants waved in a strong wind. To the south about three miles, I went walking along a savanna trail that sits at the edge of the prairie and a wooded area of oaks, hickories, and other trees. There on a hillside in an area protected from the strong wind, I enjoyed a "monarch moment" as the butterflies dipped out of the trees onto various wildflowers for nectaring. In the next two hours, I counted more than 200 monarchs in the quiet surroundings. Overall, the count for the day was 251 monarchs.

Prairie City, IA

Latitude: 41.6 Longitude: -93.3

Observed by: Robert
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