Date: 09/22/2019

Number: 1000

There were hundreds or thousands resting and flitting around the elms in Goodwell OK earlier this week!

Editor's note: contacted observer for more details on this sighting

Date roost first formed: I just noticed a lot around Monday morning - when we came to work at OPSU campus.

How did you estimate the number of adults? That is just a wild guess. Ha... There were way too many to count. And if a person got to close to a tree, there would be a flurry of them take off and fly around. There are 20-30 large elm (and other trees) in the main courtyard of the administration building. It was noticeable to the point that students were stopping to take pictures throughout the courtyard and look at them.

Nectar sources nearby? There are some flowering plants in yards around town - but other than milkweed, I'm not familiar with what they'd feed on.

Overnight temperatures? It has been pretty consistent the last week or so to get down to about 60 at night for a low.

Wind? Were the monarchs shielded from the wind in this location? I'm not sure of the wind direction or speed. Yes, fairly shielded as there are several 3 story buildings on campus - as well as the cluster of trees is more than normal out in this panhandle region. They were in a courtyard area about 600 feet long.

Goodwell, OK

Latitude: 36.6 Longitude: -101.6

Observed by: Howard
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