Date: 09/12/2020

Number: 250

Roost formed Sept 12 and left Sept 13

Some liked the willow, many were settling on an Eastern Red Cedar and even more were higher up in the ash. They all ended up in the ash, observed about 6:40 PM.

Note, The damage to the trees is from the recent derecho.

I tried to count clumps of 50 or so in the picture, but am not convinced some of the dark objects on the right side of pic were monarchs after all. Let's go with 200-250.

We have an acreage with a restored prairie first planted in 1992. There are a variety of forbs in the prairie (purple coneflower, compass plants, black-eyed susan, etc.). There are also many native flowers that are scattered here and there, both within, and on the edges (Goldenrod, purple prairie clover, prairie smoke). I'm not sure which are nectar for the butterflies.

Overnight low for 9/12 was reported by NWS in nearby Ames as 51F, could be cooler in country, so 48-50. Very foggy this morning.

I missed their departure.

Wind direction: West. They were on the north side of the ash tree and very near our 4 row windbreak to the west. They seemed to be coming in from the NW. It was the first clear evening in about 5 days here in Central Iowa, as it rained daily in central Iowa since Monday evening. Wind was maybe 5 to 10 mph.

Nevada, IA

Latitude: 42.1 Longitude: -93.4

Observed by: barbara
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