Date: 10/05/2021

Number: 120

North winds brought in a lot of Monarchs to enjoy my Ageratum!

I actually watched as Monarchs left my flowers at sundown & went to roost in the trees directly above. They roosted in clusters spread throughout my oak trees. It was an amazing thing to watch!

[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 10/16/21]:

Since I found a roost last year, I decided to stay outside at dusk to watch & try to see where they go. The large patch of Hardy Ageratum & one big Lantana bush I have gets west sun right up until the sun drops below the horizon. As the sun went down, I watched them disperse & many of them began to clump together on branches under the canopy of a Live Oak & Post Oak right on the east side of the Ageratum patch. There was only a light north wind (5 mph) that I think pretty much died by nightfall, so I don't think it was an issue. But if there was wind, they were probably protected up under the inside of the canopy. There are 2 pine trees right by these trees too, so the trees together probably create a wind block.

Night temps were in low 60s. I got up early & watched as they woke up. They seemed to be all active again by 8:30 AM. Very cool! Many returned to the Ageratum. We had light north winds again & by mid afternoon, all but maybe a dozen were gone. Winds turned back to the south by the next day, leaving a handful of stragglers to enjoy the flowers.

I divided the patch of flowers in 8 parts, counted butterflies in the most popular section & in the least popular section. I then averaged those 2 sections & multiplied the average by 8.

Denton, TX

Latitude: 33.2 Longitude: -97

Observed by: Pam
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