Date: 09/18/2022

Number: 1100

Nearby hay field was not mowed since July so there was a lot of clover and other species blooming in the field. Each night from 9-7 to 9-18 the monarchs would be nectaring in those fields during the early evening and at night would head for the trees located on a nearby property. Homeowner went out each night with a flashlight to count the monarchs roosting in his trees and reported numbers to me and sent photos. I was at the home and reported on two of those roosts. It did not matter the temperature nor wind speed. The monarchs were even moving around during several days of mist, drizzle and rain. There seemed to be no preferred species of trees. Trees included on the property included elm, birch, maple, oak, and conifers. Moncarhs seemed to favor the north sides of the trees. The hayfield was also situated north of the trees.
We have held off posting these roosts because people were showing up at the private property uninvited.
I have the nightly counts and photos and will be making a report for each night.
This was the final night homeowner experienced roosts. With over 1100 on 9-18-22 the next night there were none. At least 12 nights of nightly roosts were seen on this property. Homeowner has lived at this location for 15 years and had never experienced this activity before. It MIGHT be that this year the farmer who planted the hay fields did not do the usual late August cutting of the hayfield leaving a lot of blooming clover and other species in the field.

Monee, IL

Latitude: 41.4 Longitude: -87.8

Observed by: Phyllis
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