Date: 09/17/2009

Number: 100

Woke up late this morning (September 18th), went out our back door to go feed the calves & butterflies flew out of the trees like bats out of a cave! We have been enjoying them all day & have had lots of visitors over to take video & pictures. The local newsperson is coming out to do a story on them. Amazing!

As far as the estimate on numbers, that's going to be really hard to do. We live on a farm in Brewster, Kansas between Goodland & Colby on I-70, about 40 miles from the CO border. We have 6 acres of homestead & tree windbreaks on 3 sides. I can tell you that there are many, many different roosts, numbering 5-20/roost in all types of trees: elm, pine, cherries, oak, maple. I think it would be safe to say hundreds. They seem to be roosting on the north & west sides of the trees this afternoon.

The closest crops surrounding us are dryland corn, milo & soybeans. We do have sunflowers within 2 miles. This year has been exceptionally wet for us & we have lush pasture & plenty of volunteer sunflowers in the ditches & fields. The summer has also been relatively cool & mild. This has not been your typical Kansas summer. The weather yesterday (September 17th) was in the 70s during the day & 50s last night. It was very calm last night, hardly any wind at all. Today there is a south wind & this was the first morning in a week that there was no fog. I have attached photos & videos.

September 21

We had a front move through late yesterday evening (September 20th) and most of the monarchs have moved on. Our high today is forecasted at 58 degrees & the wind is howling. A few remain, maybe the weaker ones? I mowed this morning & rescued several in the grass & tucked them into a tree branch out of the wind & away from the cats. I didn't see with my own eyes that they left before last night, but that would be
my best educated guess because of the drop in temperature. It really cooled
off last night after dark when the wind came out of the north. I assumed
that's what they were waiting for to ride south. They are not getting
around well today at all with the temperature & fierce wind. I did watch
some "shiver" this morning. I wish I could have watched them leave, that
would have been a sight to behold!

Editor's Note: Since roost was discovered the morning of September 18th we are assuming it formed on the night of September 17th.

Brewster, KS

Latitude: 39.4 Longitude: -101.3

Observed by: Natalie
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