Date: 10/01/2020

Number: 2000

Largest sightings for years since the city accidentally sprayed for mosquitoes, killing the butterflies instead. About ten years of recovery here at least. Beautiful little visitors!! Weather has been excellent for their travel. They look in good condition!!

THE ROOST FIRST FORMED THIS YEAR ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2020, WHEN A SMALL COOL FRONT GENTLY BLEW INTO BRONTE IN THE EARLY MORNNG HOURS.

THE MONARCHS STAYED UNTIL SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2020, WHEN ANOTHER SMALL COOL FRONT CAME INTO TOWN AROUND 2:00 AM THAT MORNING. THERE WERE A FEW STRAGGLERS LEFT.

EVERY TREE IN THIS ROOST WAS COVERED WITH MANY OVER LAPPING CLUSTERS OF BUTTERFLIES. IT IS HARD TO ESTIMATE HOW MANY WITH AROUND 5-8 TREES FULL. WE COUNT AS MANY AS WE CAN ON ONE LARGE BRANCH , SAY ABOUT 50-100, THEN THE NUMBER OF COVERED LARGE BRANCHES, SAY AROUND 10-20, THEN THE TREES ABOUT 8-10. SO BY THIS METHOD THERE WERE MORE LIKE 2 TO 4000 MONARCHS. THAT WOULD BE MORE THAN I ESTIMATED AT FIRST. THE MOST WE ALL HAVE SEEN IN A DECADE.

THERE IS A CREEK WITH WATER THAT RUNS WITHIN 100 YARDS FROM THE ROOST. THERE IS SAP FROM APHIDS ON THE LEAVES OF THE TREES. WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DIFFERENT KINDS OF BUTTERFLY BUSHES AND FLOWERS PLANTED BUT NO MILKWEED. WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE MONARCHS ON THESE PLANTS VERY OFTEN, MOSTLY FEEDING ON THE GRASS AND THE LEAVES OF THE TREES.

THE ROOSTING TREES ARE LARGE PECAN TREES, ABOUT 8 OF THEM THAT WERE PLANTED IN THE '60'S ACCORDING TO THE LANDOWNER. THAT WILL HAVE THE STICKY PECAN APHID SAP ON THE GRASS AND THE TREE LEAVES.

THE MONARCHS ARE SHIELDED FROM THE WIND IN THIS LOCATION BY THE HOUSES ON EACH SIDE AND THE LARGE TREES. THE LAND ALSO FORMS A LARGE BOWL-SHAPED INDENTION IN THE YARD THAT YOU WALK DOWN INTO LIKE A SMALL VALLEY. LOWER THAN THE STREET AND THE HOUSES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE MONARCH ROOST.

AS OF WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, MORE MONARCH'S HAVE ARRIVED, ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT SEEN THEM THE LANDOWNER CALLED ME. HE SAID THAT THERE WERE NOT NEARLY AS MANY AS THE FIRST ARRIVALS.

Bronte, TX

Latitude: 31.9 Longitude: -100.3

Observed by: Jerita
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