Date: 10/18/2016

Number: 300

Same conditions as yesterday. Much of this is copied from yesterday then updated. The increase in number is because I checked more locations, not because anything fundamentally changed. If I spent all day checking neighbors properties I could probably drive the number into the thousands.

I am reporting this as Peak Migration rather than Roost because Monarchs in trees were active and easily flushed from perches. They would settle back though usually not to the same perch. I interpret this as weather sheltering, not roosting. (I could infer that they were there roosting during the previous night, but I did not see it.)

Relatively clear at sunrise. Scattered cirris. 68 degrees, 95% humidity. Still brisk south wind. I started a check about 0945. Found many large tree groves, a few more than yesterday and also in many smaller groves and some isolated trees large enough to provide access under then and to break the wind. All Monarchs were were toward the north side of the tree or grove. I also saw some next to the groves feeding, usually on Broomweed. A handful further away. The only exception was trees next to the county road, where I assume traffic disturbs them. Whether motion, noise or headlights at night I don’t know.

No directional flight observed. .

We have seen this idling while waiting for favorable wind before. The need to feed is minimal so they just rest out the wind and in the shade. The wind change is due in the middle of the night between Wed and Thursday. Or between tomorrow and the day after that. Current FORECAST is temp at the wind shift high 68, falling to 61 at sunrise. North wind to build to 20 with higher gusts. All accompanied by a thunderstorm that ends mid-morning.

Pretty safe bet the Monarchs will be gone before Thursday night.

Glen Rose, TX

Latitude: 32.1 Longitude: -97.9

Observed by: Gregg
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