Date: 09/22/2018

Number: 300

It’s our 5th evening (and 5th installment!) observing monarchs as they move from their field of nectar, in search of the perfect spot to roost for the night. They seem a bit frenzied as they dart back and forth at high speed, up and down the hill, changing direction, in and out of the trees,....as if they are very picky about where to settle in.Tonight, many headed for the west-facing tree line, small clusters forming here and there. Larger clusters of 20 or so, started to develop in the upper and interior sections of an old oak tree. (Up too high to get a good photo....where can I post a movie?)As each new butterfly touched down in a cluster, it set off a chain reaction of wings flashing orange, opening and closing, picking up the color of the sunset. With wings closed, the clusters almost disappeared.
This was the smallest group so far. Estimating 300.
At 7:30 a.m. the next morning,they were still roosting. Ten minutes later, they took to the sky. At first I thought they were moving to the trees on the other side of the field. But no, they were on their way! All heading in the same southwesterly direction where they would soon be across the Mississippi into Missouri. (Unless they turned out of view and headed downstream!) Thanks for gracing us with your presence! Safe travels!
After all of our visitors this week,the rest of the day felt so still and quiet...just 2 dozen monarchs floating in the field, with bees and other butterflies. What a glorious week!

photo: the oak tree where they’re roosting

Golden Eagle, IL

Latitude: 38.9 Longitude: -90.6

Observed by: Lisa
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