Date: 09/25/2011

Number: 1

In my corner of Chautauqua County there was a steady stream of monarchs stopping in the yard and feeding on the New England Asters which are in prime bloom right now. They would nectar for awhile in groups of two and three, and then head southwest only to be replaced a while later with a new batch. The Joe Pye Weed and most of the goldenrod are done blooming, so butterflies are feeding primarily on the several types of wild aster I have growing on the property.

At one point there were seven monarchs feeding on just two of the aster bushes, and that is the most wild ones I have ever seen in my yard at one time, since I moved here five years ago. In fact that is more than the number of wild ones that I have seen here all summer. : )

These ones most likely crossed the center of Lake Erie, as I have observed them coming in right off of the lake in previous years and roosting in the trees in small batches of 20 - 30.

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Frewsburg, NY

Latitude: 42 Longitude: -79.1

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