Date: 02/20/2014

Number: 1

Three fresh monarchs seen within fifteen minutes, flying north Lower Barton Creek Trail off Columbus Drive in Zilker Park, Austin, Travis Co., TX on 20th February 2014. Another one the following day (photo available).

One taken was undersize, very fresh with full color, with wing tips flaccid, not yet firm. I would say it was 1 or 2 hours out of the pupa. At this locality it is on time as a spring migrant passing through.

Historically (since 1968) we have had monarch sightings here in Travis Co. in every month of the year. This year, winter monarchs were absent at this locality. These are the first monarchs seen at this locality since last fall. None were seen in December, January and early February.

I think these (monarchs) moved inland from the Texas Gulf Coast barrier islands such as Mustang Island where they can be found some years in midwinter in the zone just inland from the highest dunes.

The locally-bred monarchs are becoming migratory as indicated by the fact they were flying north and early March is when we usually see our first migrating monarchs, flying high northward along I-35. Most people miss them because they fly high.

I shall make a point of reporting the first full-sized worn and faded monarch, when I find it. That would be a candidate for a migrant from the roosts in Michoacan, Mexico State and other points in the Oyamel Fir zone of the mountains.

This winter I have observed monarchs at Lake Havasu City (AZ) on November 28th (3 relatively fresh) and at Indio (CA) during the week before New Years (several seen between Palm Springs and Indio, most worn and partially faded - photo available).

Editor's Note: Dr. Chris Durden, an expert lepidopterist and monarch observer since 1950, is based in Austin, Texas. "The actual situation on the ground is obviously quite complex and we need to pay attention to all the details," he says.

Austin, TX

Latitude: 30.2 Longitude: -97.7

Observed by: Chris
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