Date: 09/03/2001

Number: 1

Another great day for monarch watching. The highlight came in the afternoon--from 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.--when 302 migrating monarchs were counted in the air during the single hour. The wind was blowing from the northeast, and the monarchs were essentially riding the wind--especially when they were flying or floating at 1,000 feet or above. The counting was done from a single spot near our butterfly garden in Altoona, Iowa. The garden is just a few blocks from the open prairie to the north, and the monarchs appeared as singles and in groups of two or three as they flew over at heights from 5 feet to more than 1,000 feet. Later, at least 30 monarchs were feeding at various places in our butterfly garden.

Link to Prof. Woodward's Monarch Butterfly Migration Journal

Altoona, IA

Latitude: 41.6 Longitude: -93.5

Observed by: Robert
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