Date: 08/25/2015

Number: 2000

Thousands of butterflies roosting at my parents' farmstead in southern Minnesota. At 7:30 pm they saw thousands and expected more by dark.  It is really difficult to tell numbers but would estimate 2000 to 4000.

This is the second year in a row they have had a roost. (We used to have roosts all the time when I was a kid, but not for a long time until these past two years.) The monarchs used the same trees both years to roost, but this year there were more trees occupied, including some large spruce trees - as shown in the picture. Since the sun is so low in the sky the colors are funky.

The farm is now restored prairie (2nd year) with trees surrounded mostly by giant fields (in soy this year, last year in corn). It's hard to make out the butterflies because they look like leaves- although I am sure they are monarchs.

St. Peter, MN

Latitude: 44.3 Longitude: -94

Observed by: Lori
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