1st flush of Monarchs waltzing across Okla!!!

16 years ago

I did not think that they would make it this far so soon. The Monarchs are definitely moving across Okla.!!! I stepped out at work about 4:45 p.m., and noticed a few Monarchs heading SW. I happened to look up, and counted 65 in 1 minute!!! They were definitely high in the sky, and on a mission. No stopping to nectar in Monarch Waystation # 92. A few looked like they may stop to roost, but decided to move on.

Temps were in the upper 60's, cloudy with a light NE wind. Tomorrow, the temps will be back up in the 80's with a southerly wind most of the week. You all know how much I want to have a nice show in the garden. :)

Woo! Hoo! Come on Monarchs!

Reported to Monarch Watch D-plex and Journey North.

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Comments (11)

seedmama
16 years ago
Congratulations, Linda! And thanks for the heads up. I'll be outside some today so I'll be sure to keep my eyes open.
linda_centralokzn6
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, Seedmama. It is indeed a spectacular sight. I continued to see a nice steady of flow of Monarchs whenever I had a chance to step outside at work today. Not nearly as many as yesterday. These were flying lower, and some stopped to nectar. Are you seeing any?

I heard that there are thousands in Kansas still moving this way. :) Yee ha! Can't wait!

Susan, Elaine, Randy, Sandy, Lisa? Are you seeing any Monarchs??????
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Jay, thanks again for your report. It must have warmed up enough for them to take off. If the weather's right, they don't stay in Dodge long. The roost that I observed one night, they were flying south 7:15 in the morning! I passed them on my way to the roost! They were all gone by the time I got there. I thought that they would have been out nectaring, before they left. I don't know if this is as common in Kansas as it is in Okla., but google "Golden crownbeard". It is an annual yellow wildflower. In Okla., when the Monarchs are migrating, that is what I find them on in the wild. you may already have some around. Yesterday, I only found about 5 Monarchs, but I saw "hundreds" of different kinds of Sulfurs nectaring on the crownbeard. They must be working their way around Okla. now. Thanks so much Paula, for your report. The main wave is in Texas now. We'll still have some late bloomers show up.
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Sorry, I had not been keeping up on this thread. Thanks for the report, Ksokiegonnab. Gamebird, if the caterpillars are on parsley, then they are indeed Black swallowtails. If they can continue to eat with this "cooler" weather that we are having, they will wander off, and find a sheltered area to make a chrysalis. They will overwinter as a chrysalis, and emerge on a warm day in the spring. Moths tend to burrow down into loose soil or debris, and make a cocoon, to emerge in the spring. Betty, thanks for your exciting report of the Monarchs in your yard! Butterflies are very host specific on what they lay their eggs on. Monarchs only lay their eggs on milkweed. Snow on the Mountain is not in the milkweed family. Perhaps, there is milkweed in the alley or pasture nearby??? If you have parsley or fennel in your yard, the caterpillars may have been Black swallowtails. The tropical milkweed is easy to obtain and grow. It is an excellent nectar source, as well as host plant for the Monarchs to lay their eggs on. You may be able to find some native mw growing in some fencelines or pastures, and find some with some interesting seedpods, tobring some seeds home for a native plant area. As you increase your nectar and host plants in your garden, you will begin to find lots of butterflies seeking out your yard. Good luck with your garden, and thanks for your interest.
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butterflymomok
16 years ago
Linda,

I haven't seen any migratory action here yet. I have had Monarchs in the garden all week, still laying eggs. I'm anxious, but I also know that unless conditions are just right, I'll be on the edges of the migration path. I've witnessed 2 major migrations with roosting in my yard (at my old house) in the past 10+ years.

Sandy
mcronin
16 years ago
Linda,

I'm so happy for you. The Monarchs bring such joy to those of us who love them and take the time to enjoy them and nurture them.

mike
linda_centralokzn6
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, Mike. And, I am happy for you to. I do hope that you have a wonderful show of them this year. I'm sure that it was more of a struggle for you keeping things watered with your dry year.
mcronin
16 years ago
Thanks for understanding Linda. I don't know if it's me getting older, but gardening was extremely labor-intensive this year. We're TEN INCHES below normal rainfall for the year and are below average rainfall for every month since March. In addition, July, Aug. and Sept. were warmer(hotter) than normal. I've had to water FROM OUR WELL an average of 21/2 hours each day. I water by HAND WITH A HOSE to get the most out of each drop of our precious water. I couldn't have done this much watering on a daily basis before I retired.

mike
sandwhy
16 years ago
Mike - how I wish we could have given you some of our rain - we had the opposite problem - too much. :(

Linda - love the "waltzing monarch" image! :) I had ONE yesterday... the biggest day for me here in Chicagoland was September 11th. Still have some tags left, too!

Sandy
seedmama
16 years ago
Linda - I'm not educated enough to identify migration, but on Thursday afternoon my Tithonia were covered in Monarchs like never before. Seedmama
butterflutter
16 years ago
Oh, What a lovely sight that must be! You just keep enjoying what you see for those of us not fortunate enough to be living along the migrating routes. Butterflutter
elaineoz
16 years ago
Linda,

I have not seen very many Monarchs at all this summer. I have only seen maybe 1 Monarch this week, maybe? I have a great abundance of black swallowtails, and sulphurs right now. There are usually about 5 big swallowtails in the yard, and lots of yellow sulphurs. I hope to see more Monarchs as more start migrating.

Elaine
linda_centralokzn6
Original Author
16 years ago
That is a "labor of love" for the butterflies, Mike. Wow, 2 1/2 hrs. per day "by hand"??? I'm sure that there were times when you were just hoping that the well had enough water in it.

Interestingly, my flowers look worse this year, than the last 3 years of drought. They put on so much growth in the early summer with all of the rains, then the heat and hot winds came, the flood in August with tropical swirling winds. Most of my zinnias look pathetic. Most of my golden crownbeard drowned out. I do hope that I have a few things that will entice the Monarchs when the next wave of them are coming thru. The wind blew horribly today, with gusts upto 30 mph. I had about 6 Monarchs trying to nectar and fight the winds. The front came thru, but no large numbers looking for places to roost. :(

Sandy, I think that the Monarchs do waltz when they fly. How many did you see Sept. 11th?

Seedmama, they LOVE tithonia. Good for you for having that for them. I had a nice stand of it 3 years ago, but have had problems getting it to germinate since. I have alot of wind, and it does not like the hot winds. You must have an ideal spot for it. How many did you see at 1 time?

Where do you live, Butterflutter? They have a very large migration route. It is the most heavenly sight seeing hundreds of Monarchs in your yard. I often have to kick myself to make sure that I haven't died and gone to heaven!!!

Hi Elaine. I've been missing visiting with you. Keep your eyes open for the Monarchs. There are more on the way. I usually don't see alot of Monarchs in my yard until Oct 7th or 8th? It's still early.

I am envious of all of your Blacks. :) I had a huge fennel that just upped and died last month for some reason???? So, I've only got a few puny plants for them, and a few azizias.

Do you have some senna for the Sulphurs?

1st flush of Monarchs waltzing across Okla!!!

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1st flush of Monarchs waltzing across Okla!!!

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