Date: 02/12/2022

Number: 40

Continuation of 2nd season of monitoring at this Monarch overwintering site - 13th report this season.

The primary purpose of this trip was to attempt to determine where the Monarchs and the Queens spent the cold nights. I arrived early while it was still cool (50F) and overcast. I walked and scanned the field and surrounding trees/swamps/brush with binoculars for approximately 2 hours (0930-1130). I did not see a butterfly until approximately 1130 when the temperature reached approximately 60F. The Monarchs and Queens began flying up from previously unseen locations under and around the plants in the field . The butterflies were scattered randomly around the field. They were not clustered together.

Nectar plant photos, tentative ID is Raphanus raphanistrum, Brassicaceae - Mustard Family. Uploaded large for detail:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/51878075227/in/album-72177720296100685/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/51879114373/in/album-72177720296100685/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/51879039571/in/album-72177720296100685/

Locations and habitat photos with descriptions in captions. Uploaded large for detail:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/51879040831/in/album-72177720296100685/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/51879681945/in/album-72177720296100685/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/51879352159/in/album-72177720296100685/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/51879041691/in/album-72177720296100685/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/51879683830/in/album-72177720296100685/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/51879042801/in/album-72177720296100685/

NABA Sighting for February 12, 2022. (Has additional PHOTOS, comments, weather, counts and other species observed):

https://sightings.naba.org/sightings/20838

Location:
GPS: 31.47029591072563, -84.37643394048602
Straight-line distance to Atlantic Coast: 178 miles.
Straight-line distance to Gulf Coast: 98 miles.

Low temperature summary for the 2021-2022 cold season:
30 Nov 2021: 31F
23 Dec 2021: 33F
24 Dec 2021: 34F
04 Jan - 12 Feb 2022: 21 days at or below 36F.
04 Jan - 12 Feb 2022: 09 days at or below 32F
18 Jan - 30 Jan 2022: 04 days at or below 28F
30 Jan 2022: 23F (Lowest temperature of the season thus far.)

Roy Cohutta
Albany, Georgia
Text: 229-343-5365
iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/people/3476
BugGuide: https://bugguide.net/user/view/43980

Albany, GA

Latitude: 31.5 Longitude: -84.4

Observed by: Roy
Contact Observer

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