Date: 10/17/2020

Number: 171

This was our last captive-reared Monarch this year. We raised a total of 171. This number seemed low to us. The summer started out good but as autumn approached the numbers of eggs and caterpillars we were finding dropped off dramatically. We were seeing many fewer Monarchs late summer. Anecdotally, my brother who lives in Kitchener and his in-laws in London also saw dramatically fewer numbers this year; conspicuous by their absence. Nectar sources and Milkweed were in abundance locally and no change in their cover was reported to me by my relatives in their respective locations.

After two days of freezing and near freezing temperatures and frost overnight, Saturday had more favourable temperatures and forecast for no freezing in the following days when we released this male. Upon release at 11:00 temperature was around 8C, moderate Southwest wind, mostly sunny. Forecast high of 15C. Chose this location with a corn field to the west for sun and nectar sources.
Safe journey Garth.

Lakeshore, ON

Latitude: 42.2 Longitude: -82.9

Observed by: Laura
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