Date: 09/20/2021

Number: 200

There were many Monarch butterflies in our windbreak. We suppose seeking shelter from the wind.

[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 09/26/21]:

* Days stayed - 2 for certain but we didn't look on the 3rd day.
* Nectar sources - Heptacodium (was winding down but still had some flowers. In the past we'd see lots of Monarchs on these large shrubs. It's been arid here, so they went to flower a little earlier this year) Goldenrod, Asters, Vitex, Lavender, Marigolds.
*Overnight temps - 20th - low - mid 60's winds were brisk from the south - 15 mph gusts to 25, 21st - temps in the low 60's, high 50s, winds NW @ 10 mph, gusts to 20 mph. On the 20th they were inside the wind break (which has a large open area that's completely sheltered by trees and a large barn) and or on the north side of the wind break out of the wind, and on the 21st they were observed inside the windbreak. It started raining in the late afternoon and I didn't look as much.
* Roosting on Kentucky Coffee Tree, Catalpa, White Mulberry, Scots Pine
* 'Gustimate' was an approximate - they were to random and busy to possibly count, but there were many all over the place. I have no doubt there were over a hundred - possibly 200. They were as thick as in years past. Everywhere in the windbreak you'd see them either roosting or just gliding about, and they'd fly if you got close. This is the second time we've seen them here. A couple years ago they were here in much greater numbers, and then they were mostly on our Scots Pines.
*It was like being in a fairy tale - they were just effortlessly flying around everywhere you'd look. Not super thick, but there was not place you didn't see them.
*The rest of the week (we saw them on Monday / Tuesday) - the weather got bad and rained over 4 inches in a couple days, and we didn't have much time to look. Even today, I didn't get out back to look - other stuff was going on. If I see more roosting I'll let you know.

Another item - the butterflies were not as many this summer. Usually we get the big black ones with blue markings, and the big yellow ones that look like a cousin to the monarch, and lots of various little ones in oranges, yellows and blues. I have a friend that lives in Indiana (Columbia City - 60 miles west of here) and he noticed that there weren't as many butterflies too. Unusual year? Cicada / locusts were big, and the bird disease were outside the norm. It was very dry too....

Van Wert, OH

Latitude: 40.8 Longitude: -84.5

Observed by: Jeff
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