Date: 10/08/2010

Number: 100

October 11
Check between 13:00 and 13:30 found Monarchs sheltering in every large tree examined. Alert and wary, but when disturbed shady perch after a few seconds. Temp 82F. Wind was strong from south this morning, but has dropped since.

At least 50 seen. Probably many more here since difficult to see in closed wing posture unless disturbed.

I speculate they will come out to feed toward sunset.

October 9
7:30 - 9:00

50-100 still at grove from previous evening. Smaller tended to be lower in trees and still immobile at 7:30. Saw several larger individuals fly out which must have been perched higher and thus in the sun first. Many later moved to perches in the sun to warm up.

Check several other tree cluster where Monarch have overnighted in the past. Monarch in and around all.

18:00 Many feeding on Gayfeather until dark. Hard to coult, but would flush wherever I walked. We currently have tens of thousands of gayfeather blooming. Many other good food species in bloom also. Because of recent rain we also have another round of milkweed.

October 8

Strong south wind today so they Monarchs may hang around.

Not a dense roost, 50 to 100 in grove of trees settling onto small branches and vines. No cluster larger than about ten.

Many more flying through out the day.

This was the first day we have seen an evening roost. Previously still flying at dark.

Chalk Mountain, TX

Latitude: 32.1 Longitude: -97.9

Observed by:
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