Date: 08/25/2015

Number: 20

Found quite a few monarchs at Standing Cedars Nature Preserve located a few miles south of Osceola. We walked the area in the afternoon and saw many dozens of monarchs, and very likely total numbers were a hundred or more. Winds were brisk from the WNW and we were there at 1:00-2:00 so I suspect these were mostly local butterflies. The days previous had been cold and cloudy, but it is possible that some migrating monarchs might have come before then.
I went back this evening and was lucky enough to find a roost just before dark. Instead of forming on one of two high lone trees (that did attract a lot of attention), the monarchs rejected those trees and moved lower. I moved to one of those possible choices just in time to find a roost. I suspect there were several in the 640 (?) acre sanctuary, scattered here and there.
Temperatures were in the 60s, skies were clear with a slight breeze, and when darkness closed in, temperatures dropped just below 60.
Most alfalfa fields have been cut in the area so I am concentrating on wild flower areas of large size in my search for monarchs and roosts.

Editor's note: This site reported roosting in a previous year.

Osceola, WI

Latitude: 45.3 Longitude: -92.7

Observed by: Pat
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