Date: 09/03/2021

Number: 500

About this time of year in this area of southern Ontario, the monarch migration peaks and continues for about one more week before gradually declining about the 15th of the month. This may happen earlier or later each year, depending on weather conditions. The monarch migration near Port Hope, Ontario is in full swing, and we have been fortunate to capture many monarchs in a huge farmer's clover field, also surrounded by many other fields filled with goldenrod and other flowering plants in full bloom and beginning to decline. On September 1 - 3rd, we captured for tagging 501 monarchs, spending about 1.5 to 2 hours each afternoon out in this field. Monarchs were very active, skittish, heading westbound into strong westerly winds. On occasion, monarchs would encounter each other and engage in aerial combats - flying high up into the sky before separating. These monarchs were also equally focused on building up their fat stores. Beautiful, pristine monarchs. I suspect that the cold front that began moving through the area last week, bringing us night temperatures in the 50's F, sent monarchs to the north scurrying southward.

Port Hope, ON

Latitude: 43.9 Longitude: -78.3

Observed by: Donald A.
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