Date: 09/12/2011

Number: 1

Migration has seemed to be off to a slow start in my area of South East Michgan. Numbers in my yard each day have increased slightly. Also, about 30 miles from here yesterday, there were 20+ nectaring on Buddleia in a back yard which has several types of milkweed and many native plants. The numbers from Pte Pelee have been 0 almost every day - of course those counts are of monarchs roosting for the night at the tip - something I think they do mainly when the weather is unfavorable for nectaring in the area or crossing Lake Erie..

In the hope of getting a more accurate representation of what is going on, I contacted the records tabulator for the Detroit River Hawk Watch and he referred my query to another volunteer. I think that several people on this list will find his Email to me to be interesting. He wrote:

"I am the primary counter for the Detroit River Hawk Watch and will be stationed at Lake Erie Metropark until the end of November. We do not count Monarchs in any official capacity at the site but their presence is certainly noticed, especially when they're directly overhead and are somehow able to fool you into thinking they're a raptor. Over the last few days, we have been seeing a definite increase in the number of Monarchs floating by the site. I remember Saturday as being particularly good for Monarchs but the last two days have been very good as well. If you are interested in coming out and seeing some, I would think that, even with a slight chance of rain forecasted, the next few days will continue to be quite good for Monarch migration."

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Milford, MI

Latitude: 42.6 Longitude: -83.6

Observed by:
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.