Date: 08/22/2009

Number: 2000

August 26
In the bright afternoon, I spotted at least 7 (25- 30) roosts as I walked the woods of Padua. As usual I called to the Monarch's and several flew over my head from the trail trees that they were roosting on . They come quite close just about 3 feet over my head as they swooped and flew over me. I then followed them to the little woods next to the trail, to see them landing in a profusion of a flame Orange color. Now they were roosting in the beautiful crab apple trees, ripe with fruit, barren branches, and green leaf clusters on the end of branches. 3:00 PM in the afternoon these were spotted. At 7:30 Pm I again walked the woods, their numbers seemed to have dwindled. From the 1,000's, I first spotted on Saturday the 22, to a mere 300 or so on Wednesday. At 7:30 P.M. as I was watching them come in for their final roosts, I called them again. 30 Monarch's flew over my head in a wild beautiful dance of color. Diving and swooping, I tried to photograph them, but to no avail, they were just too fast! I finally video taped them in one on there dances on the trees as they landed. In a high roost over my head I watched as 20 bright wings tried to land on the same branch. A little humming bird confused by this color,flew towards them. I saw him dip his little head at them, and he flew of onto the trail. A good day to be alive!

August 23

Today at Padua more migrating Monarch's. As I noticed on Saturday, the roosts are becoming bigger. From small roosts on a single branch with 7 or 8 monarchs in a row, to a roost of over 50 or more on the end of a branch. Have taken more photos this year, with more sites they are using. Has been a bad crop of milkweed in the area this year, not enough rain. Hard on flowers and crops.

August 22

I have been out of state for a month. When I returned to Padua on Saturday the 22nd of August, the Monarch's were back. As I walked on the trail next to the little woods. I called out to them. Hello little ones where are you? 8 beautiful Monarch's flew out from the trees, and swooped and flew directly over my head! As I continued to call to them, they flew out from the elm trees, fir trees, and the little crab apple tree on the little trail. I counted at that time at least 300 little friends, were roosting, or flying around the trail.

Editor’s Note: We are estimating a minimum of 2000 monarchs based on observer’s estimate of “thousands.”

Sauk Centre, MN

Latitude: 45.7 Longitude: -95

Observed by: Judith
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