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Monarch Fall Roost
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Date: 10/05/2020

Number: 300

Great Gull Island is a 17 acre island, covered in Goldenrod, Milkweed and ragweed in September.
It’s a research station of The American Museum of Natural History.

I’ve been seeing roosting monarchs on Great Gull Island for years, first time in 1975 or 1976 (about 75 on a Privet Bush- before the Black Pines were big. They were planted in 1975.). I've seen them roosting on and off, but really have just started paying attention. The Pines are the largest trees on island, and only about 4 are left alive. No other trees to speak of except a pear tree, and Bayberry bushes covered in bittersweet vines.

This year I pretty much counted most of the individuals [in the roost] and then estimated what I couldn’t see clearly on backside of branches. This year they favored the small Japanese Black Pines, but I’ve seen them in past in the large Privet that grows next to one of the old forts (Fort Michie) towers.

This year I was only on the island for about 10 days at end of September (24)into October (5). Monarchs were noticeably less plentiful this year as well as fewer other butterflies too. They typically find and roost in spots in the grove that are protected from the wind (we had some 50mph winds while I was there).

Good bird migration days(NW winds) seemed to be good monarch days also. Gull Island is right on the migratory bird flyway....

Great Gull Island, NY

Latitude: 41.2 Longitude: -72.1

Observed by: Matthew
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