Date: 09/23/2006

Number: 1

I found a perfect area in the heart of Springfield, VA to net adults to tag. It is a drainage maintenance area near the Metro station I use everyday. On 9/23-9/24, I tagged my 24 Monarchs (one tag fell off and was unused) in 1.5 hours each day. I saw the same sight I had seen from the train both days. On several occasions there were 5 or 6 butterflies on a single plant. I got a picture of 3 on one plant although there were 2 more not appearing in the picture. In
12 years I have been tagging I have never seen the quantity before.
It seems that they traveled through quicker than they have in the past. The weather was unusually cool and I only saw Monarchs around in quantity for 2 weeks. In past I saw them up to early October. I haven't seen one since 9/26.

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Springfield, VA

Latitude: 38.8 Longitude: -77.2

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