Date: 09/04/2019

Number: 40

Observed roosts setting up for the 5th night in a row. Temperature around 70. Wind very minimal no humidity. Roosts setting up on west side of walnuts. Approximate count 40, overnight temps to be low 50s. Still loving my zinnias, tithonia, etc.

From my observations over the past two years watching roosts set up in my yard, wind direction is a major factor, they certainly want to set up roosts on the less windy side. It’s almost more difficult to figure them out when there is hardly any wind.

As for same locations...they can be anywhere in my yard depending on wind direction. They don’t seem to have any preference on types of trees. Can be in maples, walnuts, pines. They do seem to prefer lower points of yard but my whole yard is lower than surrounding. There is one maple that has been very popular when south wind. For example, 9/1 and 9/2 south wind, yes set up in the same general area. They certainly seem to “sniff” out each other.

As for nectar plants...they particularly like my two huge plots of zinnias and Tithonia. I also have tropical and swamp milkweed currently blooming which is another hotspot. Planted as plugs so seem to be blooming later. Other annuals available are lantana and marigolds. Plus goldenrod is blooming in ditches. Asters and sedum just starting to bloom.

Springville, IA

Latitude: 42.1 Longitude: -91.5

Observed by: Cammie
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.