Date: 09/18/2014

Number: 100

After so few monarchs migrating through the Maine Coast in 2013, it was delightful to make the following observations.

Time: 2:00 pm

Habitat: Lush array of fall nectaring plants growing in extensive gardens directly on the ocean with a rocky coastline, surrounded by tall pine trees.

Temperature and weather conditions: Bright and sunny with groupings of large cumulus clouds, light winds out of the North

100 + nectaring migrating monarchs

The majority of monarchs netted and tagged or visually observed were males, 2 out of every 12 were females.

Approximately 50% of the males were tattered, small pieces of their wings torn, looked like bird predation. The females tagged or observed were pristine.

When the sun was behind a large cumulus cloud for 3 minutes or more and the gardens became totally shaded, the monarchs departed from nectaring and flew up into the pines.

When the sun came out again, they floated back down to the gardens and resumed nectaring

This was very similar to the "cloud effect" behavior exhibited in the overwintering Monarch colonies in Mexico.

Overall, it has been an impressive year in downeast Maine for the Monarchs. There was ample milkweed late spring and summer, cool temperatures, enough rain, an abundance of native nectaring plants, and the summer was void of nor'easters or early hurricanes.

Seal Harbor, ME

Latitude: 44.3 Longitude: -68.2

Observed by: Bonnie
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