Date: 09/22/2023

Number: 4

I netted and tagged 4 monarch butterflies from this 2 acres field of fresh-blooming Joe-Pye-weed. (3 female and 1 male.) I missed netting 3 or 4 monarchs and saw a few others flying about, too far to reach in time. The scene was breath-taking!

I went back to this area on 9/23 to net more monarchs, but saw none this time. Looks like the monarchs had moved on. I did have my camera, so I snapped a few photos of the gorgeous flowers.

These flowers grow in a neighbor's field that he mowed in mid-summer to clear out an aggressive woody plant. The Joe-Pye-weed then was able take over the area.

I have never seen such a large area filled with this beloved native pollinator plant that attracted so many monarch butterflies and various bees. I also saw one American Painted Lady butterfly.

On 9/20, my friend was walking in this flower area, and disturbed dozens of monarch butterflies, too numerous to count he said. In past years, he has seen monarchs roost in the trees at the field edge.

Bliss, NY

Latitude: 42.6 Longitude: -78.3

Observed by: Donna
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