Date: 09/24/1998

Number: 1

I witnessed a significant migration of monarchs across the Blue Ridge Parkway (a few miles north of the Black Mountains/Mt. Mitchell) in Western North Carolina on 9/24.

In three 5-minute counts taken between noon and 2 p.m., I recorded 87, 67 and 55 monarchs passing a given point. A conservative estimate, I think, would be that I saw about 3,600 monarchs passing through that gap during the 6 hours I was there.

From 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., when I had to leave, monarchs were always visible in the air, and hundreds were nectaring on fall asters, goldenrod, snakeroot and yarrow along the road. All were moving SW, aided by light breeze. Clouds overhung the mountaintops throughout the afternoon, with brief skyholes here and there. The monarchs were riding the air currents, flapping occasionally, but having an easy time of it.

Busick, NC

Latitude: 36.1 Longitude: -82.2

Observed by:
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.