Date: 08/24/2010

Number: 3000

September 4
6:00 noticed few Monarch's when I called them.. Again I thought that they had all left in the morning. On the way out to Padua, I didn't spot any flying in a southerly direction from Sauk
Centre. At. 6:30 noticed about 25 or more flying over my head and towards a sunlit maple tree. It was cool 61% and no wind. As I continued t o watch I saw about 15 little roosts in the sun with about 8-9 little Monarch's per roost. I continued to watch, and more little roosts were forming in the sheltered woods. No feeding was observed, but the came within 6 - inches over my head in a fly by.
Left at around 7:30 with the little roosts increasing their numbers to about 10 -15 or more per roost. The roosts were beginning to spread out as I left.

September 3
Came out to Padua at 1:40PM, today. Looked for Monarch roosts.
Gone! Happy and sad at the same time. They were on their way.
As I called to them just 1 lone Monarch flew over my head.
Checked the little woods, willow tree, pine trees, no Monarchs to be seen.Checked the corn fields, and flower beds, not a one.
At 6PM tonight I walked to my car, and a Monarch flew 10 inches from my head and then turned into the Pine trees. Then 2-3 flew over my head heading for the Pine tree. Out of no where, they came to gather again. at least 30+ over my head and landing in cotton wood, pine, and maple leaf trees.
Watched for over an hour, seeing their Little roost, grow to at least 60. Happy to see them again, I bid them good night, watching them in my rear view mirror as I left Padua.

September 2
Sad news today, after a terrible wind and hail storm, I found shredded wings and bodies of little Monarch's on the ground. We had high wind and hail, and it hit the roosts pretty hard. I started to cry when I saw all the little bodies, and shredded wings. To see so many roosts, and then this devastation. The roosts were about 400 or 500. When I called to them from the Pine and willow trees about 30 flew over my head. Some person one called me at 8am from Padua, and didn't see any roosts. There were downed branches,and torn willow leaves every where. I marked where each little set of wings were with twigs. I then started to collect them in a bag.
At least 50 wings, I had to stop collecting them it was too sad. The wind still strong was picking them up and blowing them away. At. 1Pm I was happy to see they were coming out of the woods, and across the fields.and again roosted in the elm,willow, and pine trees. At around 2 Pm. we had another tremendous down pour. I noticed that the had started to gather in large roosts at about 1:30 on the elm trees. A half hour later the big storm hit. They were there tonight when I left 7:30, still huddled together.
Hope tomorrow is a better day. Never want to see broken, shattered Monarch's bodies again.

September 1
Tonight spotted roosts in little woods of about 300 or so, they had increased there numbers.
At 10:30 am went out to little woods and called Monarch's. They had moved from Pine tree roost, back to the little sheltered wood. 100 or so flying back and forth over my head.
1 PM Went out to water our our prairie flowers and noticed Monarch's feeding. I know that they like fresh water, so as I was watering some of the flowers, I sprayed the grass heavily in one area so they could have a little drink. Several fly overs dropped down to get a drink on the dew dropped grass. When I went back to the little wood and called them 10 flew over and circled around me.
At 5 PM I went down the little road in amongst the trees at Padua.
I was starting to see about 25 or so little roosts with 10 to 15 per branch, to little roosts of 50 or more amongst the cotton wood, maple, elm, willow, and crab apple trees. They were flying back and forth still feeding on the corn tassels,flowers, Scottish thistle, and other flowering plants I couldn't identify. 7PM night roost started in earnest. The branches on several of the trees had so many on their branches they started to bend with the weight of them. Stood and counted 25 roosts, there were at least 2,000 Monarch, little woods, another 1,000 in the little lane leading through the woods. I feel this the last time I will see so many of my beautiful friends this year.

August 31
Have two observations for today. First roost sightings were about 5 Pm counted about 10 roosts of over a hundred in the little North East woods. The second roosting 7 PM at least 200 patterns were at the end of the trees with huge roosts in the flowing willow trees. They had moved from their little snug amongst the pine trees of Padua. 300 per roost in some of them.
As I walked amongst their many roosts, they were increasing in numbers. Amongst the roosts, willow, cotton wood, elm, crab apple, ceder trees, pine trees, and some maple. I walked them all, taking movies of them in their bright orange fireball displays on landings. As I continued to photograph them the sun started to set. Beautiful orange butterfly's against an orange butter cream sky, with beautiful pink spun candy floss sky's as it set. Another beautiful day at Padua

August 27
Today as I continued with my fact finding for the migration of Monarch's, at Padua, I decided to try a different time frame. At 4: 00 pm, I decided to check the roosts for any change in the preferences for roosting.
I noticed that the day before they came out of the woods when I called them. They also had moved to the N.E. side of the pine trees, close to the corn fields. I noted at least 5 roosts of about 50 to 100 Monarch's, in the first 5 or 6 trees. I had to be careful walking around them, didn't want them to fly before I could count them. As I started my count, and notations, one of my new friends from Ireland asked for help in spotting my beautiful friends. I called to them and a few flew out from the little woods, but she wanted to see more of them. I told her to follow me to where I had last seen them the day before. I could see them from the little wood location. As we walked to the Pine tree roosts, she was delighted when they flew over her head. She then proceeded to walk up to the roost, and picked up a Monarch with her fingers, held it ,talked to it and put it back on the pine needles. She did this 3 times! I had never seen anyone handle one with such ability, and then put it back on the same branch she got it from. She then asked some of her other friends from Ireland to come join her, so they could rejoice in God's beautiful creation. I came back later that night, again changing times 8:00 PM and found 4 more new roosts. A wonderful day!

August 27
Yesterday on the 26th of August, spotted many roosts in the morning. AT Noon , spotted at least 5 small roosts of about25 each.
I noticed in the back of Padua, around the Pine tree line much activity. The Monarch's were flying over the corn field near them and landing in the Pine trees. I counted about 250 or more in each level of about 5 trees. It was quite windy, and they clinging to the pine needles. At 3PM their numbers increased.
I walked back to the area of Pines, as I walked toward the trees, a huge roost flew over my head, a firestorm of color. The back woods were too filled with large roosts. At 5 PM., the first roosts for the evening was starting on the trees facing the road. The roosts were again starting on the bare tree limbs of the little deep woods. Some roosting in the beautiful bright sun,and the others harder to see in the deep shadow of the woods.
6:30 PM more roosts flying into the pine trees. They hadn't stated the swarm on the cotton wood tree I had observed night before. I left Padua around 7:Pm, to another area a mile away.
There observed several Monarch's flying toward the spot I had just left.

August 25
Yesterday and today (the 24th and 25th of August) I met my little friends again. As they flew over my head my heart rejoiced to see their winged splendor. I told friend from Ireland about the wonderful habit of the Monarch's roosting at certain spots before nightfall.
Later that day I called to them down the path, and they flew over me, in a beautiful swooping greeting. Later on that night around 8:30 pm., the visitors from Ireland came out to see the night roost. I shared with one of them that the Monarch's are hard to see with wings folded. They look like dead leaves, and unless they move their wings you can't see their beautiful color. They were delighted at this special gift of Padua, Monarch's, and took photos also.
More tomorrow
Judith of Padua

Padua, MN

Latitude: 45.6 Longitude: -95.1

Observed by: Judith
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