Date: 09/08/2010

Number: 650

September 9 1:00
They're gone! It's been rainy, cold and windy last couple of days. Today, the sun came out and they were all sunning themselves on the trees around 7:30 a.m. When I went out around 1 p.m., it was a ghost town! Saw one lonely monarch (think he missed the boat).

Photo is from this morning (a little blurry though).

September 9 later this day 4:30
I was out for my evening dog walk and noticed that the majority of the Monarch's are now congregated on one maple tree. I took multiple pictures scanning the tree, then came home and counted them!

I observed that there was little feeding activity (between 4-5 p.m. today) but I was looking for the roosts and was watching for the odd butterfly in the air. Besides the one large roost, there was another smaller one just west of the main one and then I noticed another higher up and further back (only because I saw them all "flash" at the same time). We also have a small roost just behind the house as well.

I estimate there to be at least 650 butterflies that I could see - approx. 500 in the largest roost - it's hard to see exactly how many there are when they are clustered close together, so I under estimated if I wasn't sure.

September 9
I believe they have been attracted to our property because we have hay fields out back that, due to trouble with our hay cutting equipment, we haven't got cut yet. Therefore, there has been lots of milkweed, alfalfa, clover and goldenrod to feed on. The roost seems to be spread out across the back (and who knows where else). I walk the dogs around a 40 acre parcel of land that consists of forested areas and open hay fields.

I've seen Monarchs over the past week - I'd say usually a dozen at a time, fluttering through the forest as I walk the dogs, which is something that I found unusual (been here 10 years and never seen this). I keep disrupting Monarchs as I walk and usually see anywhere from 10 to 20 in a "cloud" fluttering around as I go, but then they settle elsewhere. It wasn't until the last couple of days that I discovered the Monarchs roosting in the (mostly maple) trees at the far back of the property and realized that we were on a migratory path. It's nicely sheltered from the wind, next to the goldenrod and hay fields.

So, the question is "how many are there?" - I would estimate that I've seen at least 100 butterflies on my walks around the perimeter of the property (that I disturb), but that doesn't account for the ones that are hanging in the trees elsewhere in the forested areas (that I haven't ventured into). I have noticed today less than yesterday - perhaps because of the colder, windy weather with temperatures around 15 C. Could be they've gone deeper into the forest, higher in the trees? or flown off? Do they all go together at the same time? Seems like less activity in the colder weather.

My best guess at numbers is "hundreds". This is just one small patch in a tree (hanging on in the wind!). The next photo is a group feeding on goldenrod.

September 8
Have lived here for 10 years and have never seen so many Monarch butterflies. Quite magical! Have taken several pictures of them roosting in trees. There are easily hundreds of monarchs scattered across the fields and in trees behind our house.

Rockwood, ON

Latitude: 43.6 Longitude: -80.1

Observed by: Anne
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