Date: 09/15/2020

Number: 10000

We have approximately 200 acres of Buckwheat in bloom now. The migration has arrived on Sunday into monday at one of the fields. The other fields have minimal Monarchs present, but are there feeding as well. Awaiting their roost in the evnings. Thousands upon thousands!

Additional notes added 9/17/20:
The 10000 was honestly just a wild guess. In this particular field it is 65 acres of Buckwheat, too numerous to count in the field. Also have 3 other fields a couple miles away, that they are also very heavy in and around.

They arrived Sunday heavy at one field, and now at the other fields yesterday (Wed, 9/15). They have stuck around so far as of today (Thursday about 2 o’clock). Seems the same ones have stuck around to feed on the Buckwheat.

They are feeding during the day and about 6 or so they head in to the nearby trees. They roost there until about 9-10 the next morning and flock out to the Buckwheat.

Maybe you can’t see them that well, but every dark spot in this photo is a butterfly. (Zoom in kinda on the middle.)

Kewanee, IL

Latitude: 41.2 Longitude: -89.9

Observed by: Reuben
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