Date: 04/27/2001

Number: 1

During a recent visit to Big Bend National Park in
Brewster Co., West Texas, I found Monarchs on three occasions during my
14-day stay. Most important was sightings on April 27 at Dugout Wells (el.
3400'). I had taken my seminar group of 12 people there are dusk to see Elf
Owls and Western Screech-Owls. As we all sat around waiting for their
appearance, I began to notice Monarchs coming into the huge cottonwood trees
there. Although I could only see two of the four cottonwoods reasonably well
from my position, I counted 20-plus Monarchs flying into each of the two
nearby cottonwoods, but I could see other Monarchs flying about the more
distance trees. My view was only from the nw side. I estimated that the
total number that evening was in excess of 80 individuals, but it could have
easily been much more. I did check again the next evening at the same time
(8:15-8:45pm) and found only a couple individuals. The bulk had apparently
moved on. The only other Monarchs found duri

Dugout Wells, TX

Latitude: 29.3 Longitude: -103.1

Observed by:
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