Date: 08/15/2000

Number: 1

I observed the first big pulse of fall migration today. I saw monarchs flying at rate of one per minute during a 20 minute count, while I was rowing across a lake in a strong NW wind. Later in the evening, I found tens of monarchs aggregating in maple trees at sunset, along busy county road where I've never seen them before. August 12th was the first sign of fall migration. Of the 4 monarchs I saw that day, all were clearly headed in a southerly direction, under powered flight. Their clear "directional flight" qualified these as the first migrants of the season. Their behavior was identical to that of "migrating monarchs" which normally I don't think of seeing until the second half of August.

Wayzata, MN

Latitude: 45 Longitude: -93.5

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