Date: 10/04/2010

Number: 2000

Thousands of beautiful strong monarchs are in the trees today. They came in on a cool front this week end. They are roosting along the Kickapoo Creek in the northeastern section of town. My granddaughter and I visited three big roosts in town to take pictures and check them out. They look very healthy. Considering the small amounts we had last year, this year is a real improvement with many more monarchs coming south this year than last year or even the numbers that came through going north. I am so glad to see the increase in numbers of our favorite little friends.

October 5
I guess I spoke too soon. Today I received a call from one of my watchers. She said she heard a noise and opened her door to find monarch butterflies flopping and died by the thousands out side on her porch, the street and under the big pecan trees. The city had poisoned (fogged) for mosquitoes later the night before and it must have had an effect on the monarchs also. When I called city hall they said they had only fogged in certain places and thought that the monarch were gone. They were really sorry for not having waited a few more days. Some of the roosts were not affected although this one was the biggest one in town. The monarchs that were okay took flight the next day.

Editor’s Note: We are estimating a minimum of 2000 monarchs based on observer’s estimate of “thousands.”

Bronte, TX

Latitude: 31.9 Longitude: -100.3

Observed by: Jerita
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