Date: 10/26/2013

Number: 50

Went to Del Rio (64 mi. N of Eagle Pass) today and visited Moore Park just north of the swimming pool on San Felipe Creek, where last Sunday we saw about 500 monarchs.

This afternoon at 3:30 there were 50 monarchs in the same wind shadow. That count was in a 20 minute time period.

"Resting in the trees" for me is a roost because the exact same branches are used night after night and year to year. When the number of monarchs is large and up wind, the speed with which the still flying monarchs do a 180 degree turn, fly back up their path until they cross the scent stream of the already clustering/roosting body of monarchs, then zip straight over and alight, with all the nearby 'roosters?' ( or would that be 'roostees?') flashing their wings, is remarkable. For me cluster and roost are interchangeable. So does a roost imply only sleeping or resting over night?

I think our definition of "Roost" must vary somewhat. A matter of semantics. There is more a component of time, action, and stasis in your interpretation. My idea of "Roost" is a locus used year after year because of prevailing wind patterns &/or any time there's a number of resting monarchs in a confined area for any length of time (a noun). This is a hangover definition from childhood for me of "Chickens coming home to (the) roost. Do you see the action of "roosting" or "to roost" (verbals) as paramount?

Del Rio, TX

Latitude: 29.9 Longitude: -100.9

Observed by: Carol
Contact Observer

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