Date: 03/24/2020

Number: 100

They are flying through our property at a slow but steady stream.

I reported the butterflies shortly after we started seeing them, but we had not been able to get clear photos or visual due to the way the light was shining on them and that they are fast! Since then, by taking a screen grab off a video I took of one flying by, and a photo of the ONLY butterfly that landed, I now believe the flock to be of the Painted Lady. The butterflies have been flying steady through our neighbourhood now for almost 48 hours that we and our neighbours noticed them. It is clearly a migration and not just some feeding in this area. They started later Monday afternoon (March 23) and are still coming through (Wednesday March 25 at 3pm). Their direction is consistent traveling from the SE to the NW. I have no way of estimating numbers, but we feel it is easily in the 10’s of thousands by now. They seem healthy with some larger than others, but most seem to have decent colour. I have spent hours trying to get decent photos but it is HARD!

There are lots of flowers blooming in the desert and our neighbourhood right now, but I can’t say I’ve noticed milkweed specifically, but then again I wasn’t looking for it. We are heading out on a ride Friday so I will look to see if I see any anywhere and can let you know. I have not noticed any other butterflies in the area other than these ones at this time.

Wellton, AZ

Latitude: 32.7 Longitude: -114.1

Observed by: Faye
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