Date: 09/25/2017

Number: 16

I am calling this a roost but you may tell me I am wrong. Sunny, humid, hot 32C, steady light southwest wind. Overnight low 21C. Around 4:30 PM my son and I went out to take the laundry off the line and disturbed a group of Monarchs that were resting in our grove of fruit trees. Our lot is an acre and is bordered to the north and east by agricultural fields. The perimeter is a mix of cedar hedge, native deciduous trees, fruit trees (no spray) and a wildflower border (New England Asters in full bloom) planted by Mother Nature. On the west there is a large Cottonwood and an 8 foot fence beyond which is a brick commercial building. These items provide a significant wind break. The first group we found was in the lee of the Cottonwood. Another group was found at the northern border of the property adjacent to our Milkweed patch also in the lee of the wind. More were found in the lee of the house on our three metre cedar hedge on the east side of the property. The most interesting observation I made is that these migrants chose the same trees that our captive reared Monarchs chose to rest on when released earlier in the season (still have 7 chrysalids). The Monarchs were not tightly clustered but seemed to be waiting for a change in wind direction. The Monarchs are still here on the 26th so i know they spent the night. Moral of the story: hang your laundry outside, as we would not have discovered them otherwise!

Lakeshore, ON

Latitude: 42.2 Longitude: -82.9

Observed by: Laura
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