Date: 09/13/2011

Number: 1000

After strong head winds most of the day, the wind relaxed mid-afternoon and thousands of butterflies started appearing in huge numbers along the beach and cliff top bluffs at Clearville Park on Lake Erie, all flying in the same direction - South West between 20 feet and 300 feet elevation. 1200 were counted in 60 minutes. This continued on for about 4 hours at which time the butterflies hunkered down in surrounding trees for the night. All butterflies heading in the same direction - toward Rondeau Provincial Park 15 miles to the south-west of Clearville. Weather was warm and sunny today with calming winds.

Editor's Note: Based on the observer's comment that 1,200 per hour were being counted for 4 hours, we are estimating the roost count very roughly as 1,000 butterflies.

Clearville Park, ON

Latitude: 42.5 Longitude: -81.7

Observed by:
Contact Observer

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