Date: 09/27/2015

Number: 85

MIld temperatures 80's and winds NNE 10 mph, flying in small trickles over us in Lonelyville Fire Island, no large flutters as yet unless they are staying on mainland. We have tagged almost 100 to date, will wait for rain to stop. We were expecting more flutters this year, maybe they are still coming? We had the last of our wild caterpillars go into chrysalis just yesterday 9/29/15.

It's all about the nectar now. Please let us know if the migration season is coming later due to warmer than usual temps? Keep you posted! Ellen

Over three days, we thought the large flutters we use to experience would begin to come back this year as our whole community of Lonelyville have planted abundant nectar bushes and milkweed. We did have a huge breakthrough with milkweed this summer... We finally found the milkweed indigenous to Fire Island that was loaded with 4th generation Monarch caterpillars, these would account for 30 of the 85 monarchs we counted in 3 day period. From September 20th – last weekend they were still flying in mostly solo with the majority being male.

We also learned that the Monarchs really like the nectar from Mexican Sunflower bushes... They love these. But still the #1 favorite is buddleia.

Fire Island NY, NY

Latitude: 40.6 Longitude: -73.2

Observed by: Ellen
Contact Observer

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