Date: 08/20/2018

Number: 2500

The rest area has around ten huge oak trees. From what we could see (we couldn’t completely walk around all the trees), about six of the trees had at the least one roosting group, but some had two to three. Each group had at least 100+ Monarchs... guessing 1,000 to 1,500 total. I asked someone at the refuge if they kept records, (was this early for roosting?). They replied “I don't know that we've ever seen them like this!”

August 27: We did go back on Saturday (25th). There were not as many, but they were still gathering.
However, they weren’t in the trees as much as they were in the prairie on the grasses.
Might have been the different time of the day – morning vs. evening last time.
I’m sorry, but I am so bad at guessing numbers.
My husband believes the count from our first visit should be closer to 2,500
with this trip being down to 1,000.

I still have cats and chrysalis' at home, but I believe the Monarchs are starting to gather due to the small drought we are having... or winter is coming early! :D
Sherburn Co Wildlife Refuge

Big Lake, MN

Latitude: 45.5 Longitude: -93.7

Observed by: Eileen
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