Date: 08/28/2007

Number: 1

Got to the catalpa grove about 20 minutes before sunset,70 degrees, light west breeze. The U shaped glade within the grove with the open end to the west. It is always much warmer in there than the open fields. As the sun got lower, Monarchs drifted down from the sky, whirling and chasing. Rising up and down, from the bottom of the trees to the tops,a distance of 60 feet; they swirled. Zipping in and out of the wide leaves like playful children trying to surprise each other. They also played follow the leader flying in line following each other. It wasn't a large group, only about 12. But busy, lively and hard to count because of their activity. A mix of new, faded and several who seemed to have underdeveloped wings - withered but workable. Just after sunset, a group of three settled in with some wigwagging of wings till spacing was established. The branch they chose a dead under story one, is one that gets used every year!

August 31

Beautiful warm gold evening, soft air, temps round 70, no breeze. Only two Monarchs tonite, they want to roost and fluttered about trying to decide rising and falling around the branch where the group of 12 roosted just a few nights ago. They tried and tried to feel comfortable but finally one following the other, flew north across the gully into the woods. You wonder what motivates them, what conditions and temperatures help them decide where to roost for the night.

Marne, MI

Latitude: 43.1 Longitude: -85.9

Observed by:
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