Date: 09/05/2022

Number: 250

I counted 250 in one section of my trees. They were roosting all over the grove though with a steady line flying in.

[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 09/06/2022]:

The roost began about a week ago. The first night, I counted about fifty and it's grown each day. They vary in my yard where they decide to roost depending on the wind. Last night, they were tucked away more in the center of a grove where there was no wind. They like to camp out in the lilac bushes and the mulberry trees. There's another that they love... I need to figure out what kind it is. Temps have been dropping into the low 60's this past week with highs in the 80's.

I have a patch of black nightshade berries which they seem to love. We also have grapes though I don't see them spending much time in the vines. I try to plant a variety of butterfly friendly flowers for them. Zinnias and though I didn't plant it... Canada thistle are the main choices right now.

I walk the trees in the evenings, after work. So I am usually observing them after five and I'll take a final walk through before the sun goes down. I count for as long as I can see them once it's about sunset and they are no longer active.

Yesterday, when I had my largest numbers, the winds were SSE about 15-20. It was breezy.

I'm hoping to prepare a bigger area for them where I lost so many trees, with both milkweed and flowers.

I imagine they'll all be gone in a few days. I don't see many after Labor Day typically. Last year, I had thousands of them for one day. It was amazing. You could hear their wings from all of them flying around in one area.

Egan, SD

Latitude: 44 Longitude: -96.7

Observed by: Julie
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