Date: 08/30/2019

Number: 50

There have been numerous monarchs nectaring in the Dolan flats of T.J.Dolan natural area in the last two days so I wanted to try and find a roost at sunset. The numbers of monarchs in the flats during the day was much higher than I've seen other years. I was able to locate two roosts on two branches of the same tall poplar tree - facing East. Another half dozen butterflies were circling, leaving and coming back as dark approached.

I first saw roosts on the evening of August 30th - but that's because it was the first time I went looking.

The Dolan flats where this large tree is on the west side of the perimeter, is a swampy area that is full of pollinators all summer. Right now the most visible nectar sources are Joe Pye weed and Goldenrod.

Both evenings, there was almost no breeze. The roosts are all on the East side of the tree where the sun will find it early in the day.

Overnight temperatures were around 15 degrees Celcius both nights. The branches are towards the inside of the tree so I'd guess that gave them maximum protection.

I used binoculars to count the individuals - those already in the roost and those flying around. It's a conservative estimate since I found 3 roosts very high up, so in all likelihood there were more than 50, most especially as it appeared there was a 4th roost that I couldn't see on the 31st but butterflies were flying around that location which was a bit more inside the tree, on it's south-west side.

Today is a rainy day so I'm not expecting to see much.

Stratford, ON

Latitude: 43.4 Longitude: -81

Observed by: Sharon
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