Date: 09/11/2016

Number: 150

Large group of migrating Monarchs spent the night of 09/11/2016 in three different locations in our Black Locust grove. Moved on the next morning.

The time of day was around 7:00 PM. The roost formed the evening of 09/11/16 and departed the next morning.

My wife and I are fortunate to live on 40 acres of rolling sandhills right in the middle of the Cimarron National Grasslands. We are completely surrounded by 180,000 acres of mostly short-grass prairie with Blue Gramma, Sand Love, Sand Dropseed, Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem and other native grasses, wildflowers and weeds.

About the only trees in the area are ones people plant. We acquired our land in 1981 and have planted around 3,000 or more trees so far.

Winds on the 11th were a bit strong out of the south, maybe gusting to 15 to 20 mph. and the Monarchs were seeking out the farthest downwind areas to roost.

There were three separate groups of Monarchs in a grove of trees planted in an area of about 150' x 150'. Each group probably had around 50 Monarchs. They all appeared very healthy. No tattered or torn wings.

Overnight temps would have been in the low to mid-50s F. I recall we had a cold front moving in and I'm guessing that may have been pushing them south. We went from daytime highs in the mid-90s to a high of 70 F.

Rolla, KS

Latitude: 37.1 Longitude: -101.8

Observed by: Randy
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