Date: 07/13/2020

Number: 4

I know, I know.......
those are caterpillars, not butterflies : )
but different forms of the same creature, right, so let's not quibble?
four monarch butterflies yesterday were a couple of egg laying females and a couple of males on patrol.
weather has been hot for the last month or so with heavy rains every week or two (like 4-5" downpours.
a week ago, say July 13, I cut the back hill trails and chased up a few monarchs then....have seen a few monarchs every day since then, usually half a dozen or so, some here in the garden and some on the back hill or while driving....
these specific days are notable:
July 11 - walked biglakefarm refuge in a bigger circle and counting more closely; result saw 40 different butterflies, including five sets of mating pairs
July13 - as noted, saw 4 monarchs while mowing back trails; also saw another 6 monarchs in the surrounding area, some while walking on stower 7 lakes trail near lotus lake and some while driving.
July 17 - another hot day. this time i walked biglakefarm in the early afternoon with temps in low 80s, very humid. and saw 15 monarchs taking afternoon rests along the west treeline, in the shade....did spot one nesting pair
Overall thoughts on the summer: because of high temps and plenty of rain the potential is there for a very good 3rd generation, now brewing.......survival is everything, of course, so we'll see what we see between now and early september.........

Osceola, WI

Latitude: 45.3 Longitude: -92.5

Observed by: Pat
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