Date: 10/05/2010

Number: 200

Wed. Oct 6, Chincoteague NWR, Assateague Island, VA:

Good news for the monarchs! This morning before sunrise I found hundreds of monarchs roosting in the bayberry bushes along the causeway. As soon as the sunlight hit their wings they started to bask (full sun, temp 48 degrees, humid). Their wings were covered with dew and it took about 1.5 hours before they dried out enough to take flight. The wind was NNE between 2-4mph and temperature rose to 60 degrees; perfect for them to easily drift off this island, which some of them did for the next 2 hours. (Kiptopeke folks-- they may reach you by late afternoon. I tagged some before they left, so look for tagged ones). Many stayed behind to nectar on the seaside goldenrod that I had planted this past spring. All the nectaring monarchs that I examined close up had lean to very lean abdomens. I tagged some of those to see how long they stay to refuel. The monarch migration along the Virginia coast is not over yet. I expect more to drift in from the north end of Assateague during the day today.

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Editor’s Note: We are estimating 200 monarchs based on observer’s estimate of “hundreds.”

Assateague Island, VA

Latitude: 38 Longitude: -75.3

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