Date: 10/20/2012

Number: 500

Hundreds of Monarch butterflies were stuck in a holding pattern this weekend (10/20-21) along the Llano River as 20-mile-per-hour wind gusts postponed their journey south. We observed several small roosts and many clusters. All were holding tight to pecan tree branches or seeking refuge in the low persimmon trees hugging the Llano’s limestone cliff embankments when not battling the winds in their attempt to move south.

My husband and I tagged more than 130 Monarchs in 24 hours. The insects’ orange-and-black coloring made them perfectly camouflaged in the autumn colors of the pecan tree leaves–even more so in dappled afternoon light. While Monarch butterflies were ubiquitous, their numbers appeared drastically reduced compared to years past.

How to tell? Usually, we see clusters of hundreds. This year it was clusters of 10s and 20s.

Of the hundreds we saw this weekend, only one Monarch butterfly was spotted nectaring. Usually dozens of Monarchs break from their flight in the late afternoons and evenings to fuel up on abundant Frostweed or Goldenrod. Not this year. The insects seemed hell-bent on moving south.

Trolling up and down the banks of our stretch of river, we spotted the tenacious flyers fighting the wind, pushing into its gales, only to be forced back with a wind gust and advancing only a few yards south at a time. As Sunday afternoon rolled around, we found ourselves netting Monarchs tagged on Saturday, thus making the case that their efforts to move south were stymied.

While nectar sources have been depleted because of the drought, Frostweed, Poverty weed, purple mistflower, goldenrod, water hemlock and other late season bloomers awaited Monarchs’ this weekend, But they didn’t seem interested.

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Llano River, TX

Latitude: 30.9 Longitude: -99.7

Observed by:
Contact Observer

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