Date: 10/19/2014

Number: 1

I was out in Sylvan Prairie from 9:30 am to 12 noon collecting wildflower seeds with a group of youth. As I moved through the prairie to collect some stiff goldenrod seeds, I nearly stepped on a male monarch tucked down in the flowers. I lifted him up, he tred to fly, but it was only 48F and he could not fly more than 10 feet. Each time the kids and I held him up in the air and let him go, he tried to flap but succeeded only in gliding to another spot in the prairie about 10 feet away. I caught him easily, carried him over to some NE asters with blooms, which were on plants tall enough to reach the sunlight (unobstructed by nearby plants). He sat basking and nectaring. We continued our work.

I was heart-broken to see his skinny little abdomen. Beautiful, big, fresh, but skinny male. Sigh. Hope he finds some food on the way south, and good weather. It was 37F to 48F, sunny, WSW winds at 5-8 mph.

sylvania, OH

Latitude: 41.7 Longitude: -83.7

Observed by: candy
Contact Observer

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