Date: 09/09/2016

Number: 400

I am a Nature Conservancy employee working at the Nebraska TNC chapter's Platte River Prairie systems. All this past week I have noticed considerable numbers of monarchs, more than I have seen all year, suggesting the migration was at its peak here in southern Nebraska. One of our prairies in particular, which is largely dominated by late blooming forbs (sunflowers and the like), was full of monarchs fueling up for their migration. I guessed, correctly, that they would roost in the treeline immediately south of the prairie. On September 9, 2016, I counted a minimum of 400 individuals in a small section of that treeline- there may have been closer to 500, but I prefer to underestimate. The attached photo is of the largest cluster, which contained approximately 100 individuals. I also have photos of many smaller clumps ranging from 25 - 75 individuals on other trees. All seemed to be in excellent condition - they all looked very fresh, good coloring, no torn wings or battered individuals that I could see. The following day I saw far fewer on the wing, and could find none roosting at dusk, so I'm assuming they moved on. Apologies for the poor quality of the photo - it is the best photo I could get considering all I had was the camera on my phone and it was dusk.

Wood River, NE

Latitude: 40.7 Longitude: -98.6

Observed by: Calla
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