Date: 09/29/2009

Number: 3000

The Monarchs have been here in large numbers for the past two days (since 9/29/09). We are experiencing high south/southwest winds and it appears that the butterflies are attempting to stay on the downwind side of the trees and bushes. There have been multiple sightings of large numbers in the town.


This has been a real treat for us. To my knowledge, we have not had such a large number of butterflies at any one time. The highest estimated number that I have seen was on the evening of the 29th. The numbers appear to be slowly declining (as of 10/01/09), but there are still a large number attempting to stay out of the winds by clinging to the trees and shrubs. While driving around, I have noticed that a number of the butterflies have began to move south out of the town.

Editor's Note: The roost appears to have been large. We are estimating 3,000 butterflies since image #1 shows thousands in the lower right corner. We are marking this record as a JN staff estimate.

Big Spring, TX

Latitude: 32.3 Longitude: -101.4

Observed by: Craig
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