Date: 08/15/2010

Number: 2000

Editor's Note: This is not a confirmed roost, but we are including it here because the number of monarchs reported is so high. If monarchs were roosting nearby, this would be a very early roost at latitude 44N. We are estimating a minimum of 2000 monarchs based on observer’s estimate of “thousands.”

I was standing by a wooded area in a small clearing late afternoon, when I looked up and saw what appeared to be thousands of monarch butterflies in the sky approx. 100 feet away going Westward. I knew they migrated but didn't know when. What I've learned online is the 4th generation migrates in sept or oct. If this was the start of a migration, it would be considered very early I would think. unfortunately the location I was standing in did not permit me to observe anymore than a few minutes.

I am certain what I saw were thousands of monarchs, about 60 ft away from me and about 75 ft high in the air. I only could see them for less than a minute because the side of the house was in the way. I don't know anything about a "roost" but what I can tell you is that there is an empty lot with longer grass on the edge of some woods, and they came from that direction. I noticed a fluttering in the sky and could see they were monarchs, they were in a large group. I never saw anything like it in my life. It was beautiful!

Appleton, WI

Latitude: 44.3 Longitude: -88.4

Observed by:
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