Date: 09/13/2022

Number: 700

Largest roost yet. Maybe due to cloudy, cool, breezy weather? Two large groups and many individuals. One group is pictured.

[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 09/15/2022]:

This latest roost began on 9/12. I noticed that they stayed through the next days (I usually come home for lunch so I saw them still here around noon each day.) and more were added each day until today. Almost all have moved on. Only about 20 here this evening.

We have at least a dozen butterfly bushes along with roses, asters, hostas, crepe myrtle, salvia, hyssop, and lavender. We also have three spots with common milkweed on the property. Spring through fall, something is blooming here.

Overnight temps since this roost began have been in the mid to upper 50s. Daytime temps were in the upper 60s when the roost began with rainy, breezy weather. Each day after got a little warmer and drier. Yesterday, the day I submitted the report, temps were in the mid 80s with sunshine. Everyday the wind was out of the west or southwest until today. Today the wind switched to the northeast and the roost moved on with temps in the upper 70s.

The monarchs were mainly on our Silver Maple and Norway Spruce trees although I did see a few on our Weeping Willow tree. They would always group together in the evenings on the side of the trees opposite the wind direction or in the center of our group of spruce trees. They were always shielded from the breeze.

I did estimates by counting one average sized group on a branch and then counted groups on other branches I could see. There were individuals flying all around so I’m not sure how many were by themselves. My wife agreed with my guesstimate. We both took photos and videos.

We were outside observing them for about a half hour from around 7:15 PM until sunset.

We had this same roosting experience back in 2019. My wife and I both have photos from them as well.

Napoleon, OH

Latitude: 41.5 Longitude: -84.1

Observed by: Michael
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