Date: 05/07/2014

Number: 1

First monarchs sited at 6:00 p.m., 93 degrees, winds at 20mph. Six together in south pine trees settled on east side and saw at least 4 more flying in the field. Milkweed is up about a foot tall, lots of blooms for nectar. Fast and bright colors, not close enough for gender.

Yes they were definitely monarchs I have been tagging for the last 4 years. When I saw the first two I ran outside without camera and watched them glide over to the shelter belt of pine trees we have on our land. I am in the country with a field of alfalfa and wild flowers in early bloom. These two then left the pines and went to the wild plum in bloom. By that time I saw more on the plums, and watched 4 more in the field flying but not laying eggs as the milkweed seems very late this year and plants in the field are not even a foot tall yet, the other weed plants are overshadowing them. I did check for any eggs and found none. Then again we are talking 10 acres here so I did not walk it all only the area they seemed to rest in. Winds were from the NE, this was about 6:00 to 6:30 at night.

In checking around I really think the 10 is a conservative number on my part as I observed them. Yes unusual as last year was so sparse for monarchs in our area. Next day working in the garden we had 4 visitors in the mid afternoon. So I ended up walking the north area of our land where the lilacss are and spotted 2 feeding and playing. Milkweed in the garden is about 2-2.5 foot tall now and somewhat open but found no eggs there yet.

We raise honey bees so try to keep a lot of the right plants in our little area for them, and of course it benefits the monarchs.
I have done talks at the school showing the cycles of Northern path, southern path, as well as taken net cages with all the stages of the monarch for the kids to observe. Totally into this Save the Monarch mode, so I do know a monarch from the painted lady which has been in the area about a week prior to spotting the monarchs.

I do usually net some to identify if male or female but this caught me off guard and you know how it is when you see your first monarchs of the season, I just had to go out and follow.

Seward, NE

Latitude: 40.9 Longitude: -97.1

Observed by: Cathy
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