Date: 09/11/2013

Number: 50

Tagged 25 monarchs tonight. Photo below is a roost of 11, largest roost we have seen since 2008 or 2009!! High 84, Low 67 no breeze. Monarchs were floating through the trees everywhere, couldn't really get a good count. It rained 0.2" overnight. They have been nectaring exclusively on the nearby alfalfa but today I saw my first 2 nectaring on the New England Asters and 1 on Goldenrod. Netted a monarch we had tagged on 09/09/13 indicating that the monarch population is local and staging. I expect the monarchs to leave for the season when the next High Pressure moves in.

Update: September 12
As expected, the morning wind was 5-10 mph out of the north changing to northwest and the monarchs we have been following have started their migration! We will see very few now but will continue to tag what we can. Though numbers were low this year, the normal staging and migration cycle is back again. Go well my friends. We'll be waiting for the return of your grand children next year.

Monona, IA

Latitude: 43.1 Longitude: -91.4

Observed by: Jim
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