Date: 10/09/2022

Number: 300

1:00pm monarchs were roosting in the trees and scrubs near the Community Prayer Garden and First Baptist Church of Sonora. Estimated count 300

[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 10/12/2022]:

I . .. am familiar with two annual roosting locations in Sonora. One is near the Community Prayer Garden and the other is the at the cemetery. I have checked those locations just prior to, and continually after first spotting roosts on Sunday, October 9th. Monarchs were seen 1-5 a day in the week prior to October 8th, and on the 8th, I believe it was about 20 flyovers ( the center is on a hill) within 2-3 hours. If I made a report on the 8th or mentioned it, those numbers are most accurate.

Eaton Hill Nature Center elevation is about 2260, but the roosts are lower, at approximately 2130. I will take photos and send to you. At the Prayer Garden/First Baptist Church location, monarchs roost in the very large pecan trees, 1-3 in particular, and in varied brush and trees nearby along the perpetually dry (other than heavy rain runoff) Dry Devil’s River. There have been about the same number beginning 10/8 evening and are still present today 10/12 at 12:30pm.

At the cemetery, monarchs roost in the northwest corner of the cemetery in a few large live oak trees and in the center of the cemetery in 3-4 juniper/cedar trees. There are other live oaks and cedars very similar but they seem to prefer these locations year after year. They are also still present today around noon.

Back at the nature center on the hill, I finally spotted a monarch feeding on the Gregii’s mist in our butterfly garden today. The garden is covered with a multitude of species but the monarchs seem to fly a path nearly over the top of the garden, and over the roof of the center – quite in line with the prayer garden roost, about a block from the base of the hill. Two years ago the monarchs fed on blooming evergreen sumac when they arrived, here on the hill but have never to my knowledge roosted up here and I had suspected wind and/or elevation might be involved.

At the church, I was observing and trying to understand what attracts the monarchs to roost trees and branches? Shade seemed a good hypothesis as butterflies are on several different tree species, and on branches facing different directions, but all appear mostly/entirely shaded. We have not had high winds to my knowledge but did have a good rain Monday 4-6 am. Temperatures have been steady at lows in mid-50,s and highs in mid-80s.

When counting, I did actual counts to about 25 and did not see groupings of more than 25/30 so it was not difficult to estimate. In the dense areas, I added another 20 if I had counted 80 for those I could not see. It is possible that there are more than I reported but I doubt that there are fewer.

Another local roosting location is on private property approx. 2 miles east of Sonora. A friend and wildlife photographer 16 miles north of Sonora notes when the monarchs arrive to roost in the trees surrounding the Eldorado courthouse, and monarchs typically begin arriving here in a day or two.

Sonora, TX

Latitude: 30.6 Longitude: -100.6

Observed by: Eaton
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