Date: 10/03/2024

Number: 1084

This is a resubmission as my original got lost in the sending. Arrived to the tip of Point Pelee National Park approximately 15 minutes prior to sunrise of 07:30 on October 4. See previous report for peak migration on October 3. Since I was unable to attend on the evening of the third due to work, I wanted to be at the tip to see the roosts before they dispersed. With a north wind, I figured they would not stay. Conditions according to the weather app on my phone at 06:49: clear, 15°C, windchill 14°C, wind NNW 332° at 7 km/h with gusts up to 11 km/h, humidity 87%, barometric pressure 102 kPa and rising. Headed to the tip area adjacent to where I had seen the Monarchs gathered through the day. Checked all of those areas but they were empty. Headed to the mostly inaccessible area of the east side where I had seen them in the Mulberry trees through the day, as I knew the sun would strike them first if they were still there and I wanted to see them before they dispersed (see photo.) Headed back to the interior of the tip and started to notice Monarchs rising up from the top of Hackberry trees and Wild Grape vines topping Hackberry trees. The Monarchs were virtually invisible until they rose up from their roosts. Noted around 200 in the under story on denuded Wild Grape vines and a few small Mulberry and Hackberry trees. Counting was done as they left their roosts in order to prevent double counting. Noticed a curious behaviour as they emerged. Some relocated themselves to Hackberry leaves on surrounding trees and extended their proboscis. Darlene had noted this behaviour in the past and I was able to observe it demonstrated by around 50 individuals. Most activity ceased by around 9:30, at which point I left my vantage point in the interior and headed to the tip. Observed about a dozen Monarchs headed northward off of Lake Erie. Some chose to rest on Mulberry trees on the east side and around six others went to a Hop tree adjacent to the ring buoy and extended their proboscis. The leaves of the Hop were covered in wasps, ladybugs, and other assorted insects. Clearly the insects were garnering something from the leaves.
Time of observation, five hours. Counting done by noting them as they left their roosts. Observations by binocular and the naked eye.

Leamington, ON

Latitude: 41.9 Longitude: -82.5

Observed by: Laura
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