Date: 09/16/2010

Number: 3000

The monarchs roosted Thursday night (9/16) in the bayberry/groundsel tree thickets along the bay shore at Sandy Point State Park. With the rising sun, their flight muscles warmed and they lifted off. Feeling the tug of a strong west wind, they surrendered to it and found themselves sailing over Chesapeake Bay. Some glided just above the car rooftops on the eastbound lanes of the 4-mile bay bridge; others soared over the white-capped waves. They weren't alone. Their fellow travelers-- common buckeyes and green darners rode the same wind. They made landfall at Terrapin Park on the eastern shore. The monarchs drifted over the sand, through the Spartina and Phragmites, over the freshwater ponds to the fields. The wind was perfumed with the seductive scent of tickseed sunflower. Masses of golden flowers lured monarchs down into the fields by the hundreds. By mid-morning the wind picked up to 15-20mph. By late afternoon, monarch numbers had increased to several thousand. Standing amidst of this dance of swirling orange wings and gold petals, I felt infused with energy.

I also felt grateful for being able to witness this scene and knew that it would not have been possible without the managed fields. The fields were planted and are maintained by the Anne Arundel County Parks Dept.
They could have kept this area as mowed grass for visitors to play frisbee on. Instead they put in the time/effort to create a habitat-- an old field stage of succession with an emphasis on native warm-season grasses. (They will be praised for their work). The fields are rich with common milkweed and butterfly weed, along with dozens of butterfly nectar sources, including several species of goldenrods and New England aster, which were also in peak bloom.

Editor’s Note: We are estimating 3000 monarchs based on observer’s estimate of “several thousand.”

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Sandy Point State Park, MD

Latitude: 39 Longitude: -76.4

Observed by:
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