Date: 09/01/2015

Number: 1000

Began to observe several Monarchs high in the sky about 5:00 PM heading in a south/southwest direction at about 150 feet high average height in the sky.
Then groups of nighthawks began to pass overhead at 300 feet at about 5:27 PM flying in a east to west direction.
Then hundreds of monarchs at various heights appeared flying in the south/southwest direction and this continued until about 7:45 PM.
This awesome display of hundreds/(thousands) of beautiful creatures (Monarchs and Nighthawks) in the sky at the same time for over two hours was magnificent.

Both my wife and I tried to take some pictures but the resolution with the distance and size of the Monarchs and the nighthawks with our cellphone cameras there was no successful pictures even zooming in. We even tried to video but the result was zero for seeing what our eyes saw.

There was a major storm moving in the northwest. We could hear rumblings during the entire two plus hours of watching. The wind was coming out of the northeast at 15 - 25 mph.

With our binoculars we observed an interesting event - my wife Leone noticed it first - the Monarchs would flap their wings for 2 to 3 seconds and then cruise without flapping allowing the wind to carry them for 5 to 10 seconds then they would flap again for 2 to 3 seconds and then cruise again. It appeared all the Monarchs did the same.

Meanwhile, the nighthawks were moving in great numbers from the east to the west about 300 feet high. We observe many were dipping as they do when catching food. We were concerned at first the nighthawks were feeding on the Monarchs. But after careful observations we concluded they were NOT feeding on Monarchs but other insects above the Monarchs elevations.

We were able to determine with good accuracy the elevations of the Monarchs and the nighthawks due to the 70 - 80 ft trees that surrounds our home.

We felt we were truly blessed to observe this wonderful event.

Mosinee, WI

Latitude: 44.8 Longitude: -89.7

Observed by: Patrick
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