Date: 09/10/2020

Number: 500

Not sure when the roost first formed but the weather got windy (up to 25 mph ENE) and rainy and cool on Tuesday 9/8/20. Roost was seen earlier in the day (9/11) by someone else. Nectar sources include Bidens aristosa. Overnight temp 54-60 F. Monarchs were definitely shielded from the wind- ENE wind.

Seen along 1/2 mile stretch of Red Oak and Hickory trees bordering a Prairie Pond and a wetland prairie along the Mississippi at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge. I counted one group of about 50 and then noticed about 10 more of those groupings for a total of about 500. This is a reserved guess- most likely far more! Watched them for about 1 hour. The weather had warmed considerably (73 degrees at 5 pm!) and the monarchs were grouping and nectaring in short spurts.

Wapello, IA

Latitude: 41.2 Longitude: -91.1

Observed by: Laura
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