Date: 09/17/2015

Number: 500

Arrived around 7:00PM to find 25 Monarchs nectaring on the same east facing patch of goldenrod (equal sex distribution.) Once again many visitors getting great photos. Sunny, warm 25C, moderate east wind which picked up as the sun set. A few Monarchs fluttering lazily at eye level. I wasn't hopeful for big numbers but then we noticed a roost forming closer to the tip than last night. It gradually grew and I have no idea where they all came from. At first they were gathering on a hackberry tree then spread to an adjacent tree and lastly started to gather in vertical strips on two vine tendrils (wild grape I think) hanging from a large cottonwood with an irregularly shaped trunk. Regular visitors to the tip will know this tree. A gentleman came along while we were watching the roost grow and showed me pictures he'd just taken of another roost further north which may have been on last night's hackberry tree. The light was almost gone and I wasn't able to personally see the roost but judging from the photos I would say about 100 there. I estimate around 400 for the roost my son and I observed. I hope the Monarchs went on their way across the lake in the morning but the forecast winds are not favourable and we are expecting rain in the region Friday and Saturday with cooler temperatures.

Point Pelee National Park, ON

Latitude: 41.9 Longitude: -82.5

Observed by: Laura
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