Date: 08/31/2016

Number: 30

1st monarch roost 2016.

I first noticed about monarchs (M) flitting about while I was working on the house, about15-20 minutes before sundown on Aug 31. I followed to where there were a dozen or so flitting about. That is when I noticed the cluster on the tree of about 21 or so. There were many more still flying around then. That was yesterday 8-31-2016. If they roosted before I did not notice. I was surprised that they picked such a small black walnut tree. There are several other much larger BW trees nearby. Usually they seem to like my big spruce trees. (80-100ft planted in 1914) I walked around the shelterbelt and saw many more still flying around. I found another cluster higher up in a green ash deeper in the shelterbelt. But by that time I could not see how many had landed on that tree because there was not enough light. I just know there was real close because of the concentration of M in that close area.
As for nectar, My pastures are covered by red clover this year. I always have a bunch, but this year is extraordinary. I could cut it for hay, but I don’t need it. There are also numerous wild flowers around. I have noticed quite a few had been hanging out by my grapes and flying back and forth from them to the mulberry tree. I wonder if they were getting any sugars from the damaged grapes the birds left me?
This morning (9/1) the temperature was 56 F. Yesterday hit 84, by this time it was still in the high 70’s. Really light SE breeze 2-3 mph, less than 5mph I’m certain. The M were shielded from the breeze as this was a special condition. Really light breeze, taller grass, and the trees haven’t started to drop their leaves yet. In a normal year the black walnuts would have already dropped their leaves. The wind can get in where the M were. But the breeze was too weak. That is why I usually see the roosts on the big spruces. The BW they were in is only 8-10 ft high. The M were only 6 ft off the ground. The photo I have was taken about 10 minutes before sundown. At that time there were just as many, if not more, still flying around than were roosted. This photo looks to the SE.

Brookings, SD

Latitude: 44.2 Longitude: -96.8

Observed by: tim
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