Date: 09/25/2024

Number: 34

Arrived Point Pelee National Park tip area approximately 10:00 to overcast conditions; 19°C with a windchill of 15°C , 86% humidity, barometric pressure 101 kPa and rising, strong southwest wind evident. The weather app on my phone indicated winds at 24 km/h with gusts up to 33 km/h at 234°. After finding the roost on the morning of September 24, I was hoping to find it still intact this morning due to the fact that they were settled in and there was a fairly good south wind during the 24 hours that had elapsed since my last visit. However, when I made it down to the tip, the roost was empty. There was evidence on my way to the tip of strong winds overnight with branches on the road. I suspect the Monarchs were probably blown out of their roost, further north in the park. My suspicions were confirmed as I started witnessing Monarchs coming in off of the calm east side (see photo.) Two dozen settled in gradually. There was a bit of flitting about and circling and interacting with each other before perching with their wings open to the east in the sun to warm up before closing and settling in. All were in loose groupings of between three and six. One roost was accessible from an interior seasonal footpath. The others were tucked away in the interior near the tip and out on the eroding east beach. Some tried crossing Lake Erie by heading along the east shoreline until they encountered the strong southwest wind as they came out of the protection of the trees, at which point they made their way back to sheltered east side. One was observed crossing the lake in a south easterly direction flapping continuously. A few were observed nectaring from the Asters in the undergrowth. Another was observed puddling in the sand. As I biked away from the tip area down the park road, I observed Monarchs gliding to the tip at the rate of about one per minute. They were flying between midway and almost the top of the trees, but not above. It was interesting to observe that they seemed to be following the road down to the tip. I observed a few others once I got in my car and was driving out of the park. Again, all seemed to be following the road. I hope someone is there this evening to witness the roost that I expect will form. Winds expected to change to North just after sunrise on the 26th; then they will be gone. Conditions changed to partly cloudy while I was observing as evident in the photo attached. According to the Weather app on my phone at the time of my departure at 13:00: winds 21 km/h with gusts to 29 km/h at 231°, temperature 21°C with a windchill of 18°C. However, the Monarchs in their sheltered location would not have been affected by the windchill. There is a micro-climate on the sheltered east side when there is a southwest or west wind, especially when the sun is shining.

Point Pelee National Park, ON

Latitude: 41.9 Longitude: -82.5

Observed by: Laura
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