Date: 10/21/2025

Number: 35

Arrived to the tip area of Point Pelee National Park approximately 09:15 October 22. High west wind creating strong surf on the west side, overcast with intermittent light rain. Temperature readout 10°C when I left the car in Visitor Centre parking lot. Wind WSW 40 km/h gusts to 57 km/h, I was looking for the 29 individuals I spotted on the 21st. Huge shift in the weather since they were spotted. Temperature dropped, winds intensified, clouds moved in with rain. There was a squall overnight. The Monarchs must have moved before the storm hit. There was no chance of them moving in the wind I was experiencing nor the overnight wind. Starting at the tip and walking northward on the east side, I checked all of the spots where I had seen Monarchs on the 21st. None were spotted in those places. Monarchs in the attached photo were the first I spotted. There are five visible in this photo. This Mulberry had six individuals in it; the five were just above head height standing on the sand and the sixth was at waist height. The large Mulberry in the background contains 24 of the Monarchs that I found. They chose spots near the very top all the way down to about halfway up the tree. No big clusters. Group of seven was the biggest. Found one monarch in the sand under the smaller Mulberry. Thought it was dead but when I picked it up, it was warmed by my hand and I was able to place it near to another Monarch that was roosted on a Wild Grape vine leaf near to the sand. Three more spotted high up in another Mulberry further north. One of those individuals had damage to its forewing. All had an eastern exposure. All the trees were being affected by the wind; it was blowing straight through the forest from the west side to the east. They were in the lee of the wind but it wasn’t much of a wind shadow. As I was leaving, the wind was picking up and the rain was pelting me. Wind forecast to intensify to 50 km/h with gusts to 71 km/h westerly. These Monarchs will not be able to leave on the 22nd with the forecast wind conditions and overcast skies. The only warmth that they will experience is the moderating effect of Lake Erie. Places inland are expected to be colder overnight. Forecast temperature going down to 8°C overnight with windchill into the negatives, high for the 23rd forecast to be 11°C.

Leamington, ON

Latitude: 41.9 Longitude: -82.5

Observed by: Laura
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