Archive

   MONARCH BUTTERFLY COUNT SUMMER, 2020

Summer counts are conducted June 1st to August 14th. I record monarchs on about 200 acres of habitat in and around Harrisville at least every other day. Last year was the best summer for monarchs in numbers since record keeping began in 2010. The sightings are listed below for each of these seasons.

   Year    Number counted    Notes
2010 4    Cool summer. 96 million monarchs in Mexico.
2011 1    Warm summer. 201 million monarchs in Mexico.
    2012 1    Drought beginning. 145 million monarchs in Mexico.
    2013 4    Drought year. 60 million monarchs in Mexico.
    2014    35 Conditions improving. 34 million monarchs in Mexico.
    2015    28 Most drought in eastern US ended. 57 million monarchs in Mexico.
    2016 6    Cool Spring and very wet summer. 201 million monarch in Mexico.
2017    60 Very good weather conditions across eastern US. 146 million monarchs in Mexico.
2018    158 Excellent weather throughout the south for egg laying.
   124 million monarchs in Mexico.
   2019    253 Another excellent weather throughout the southern states.
   302 million monarchs in Mexico.
   2020    142 Good weather in Mexico. Monarchs leaving one month early.    151 million monarchs in Mexico.

FALL MIGRATION 2019
Generally, monarch migration begins with directional flights on August 15th in the Harrisville area, although one was observed high overhead on August 11, 2015. Most migrate in a southwesterly direction on northwest winds.

August 2019 set two new records since 2010. The 2 day count had 411 monarchs observed August 30-31 which broke the old record of 44 set on August 22-23, 2018. The seven day count had 470 monarchs observed August 24-30 which broke the old record of 201 set on August 17-23, 2018. The one hour count still stands at 149 August 22, 2018 along with the one day count of 1,016 on August 22, 2018. Finally, the one month count still stands at 1,524 set in 2018.

New records since 2010 for September were set for the monarch migration in and around the town of Harrisville. A one day count on September 26 had 1,301 breaking the old record of 813 set on September 27, 2017. A two day count still stands at 1,129 on September 27-28, 2017. A one hour count set a new record of 336 on September 26 breaking the old record of 192 on September 27, 2017. A seven day count set a new record with 2,843 September 22 to 28 breaking the old record of 1,162 set from September 21-27, 2017. Finally, another record was shattered with 3,892 monarchs counted this September which broke the old record of 1,298 set in September of 2017.

More new records were set since 2010 for October migration in and around the town of Harrisville. The one day count still stands at 286 set in 2011. The one hour count still stands at 55 set in 2011. However, the two day count of 497 October 6-7 broke the old record of 360 set October 4-5 in 2017. A seven day count of 596 on October 01-07 broke the old record of 367 on October 02-08 in 2017. Another record not reported before is the latest high number of monarchs late in October. I had 12 on the 20th which broke the old record of 9 set on October 20, 2017. Finally, another record of 645 monarchs were counted for the month of October breaking the old record of 435 set in 2017.

Last monarch observed in Harrisville was on October 28th. A total of 5,283 monarchs were observed from April 30th to October 28th, 2019. This new record shatters the old record of 1,857 set in 2017. Since record keeping began in 2010, the last three years have had over 1,000 monarchs observed. Otherwise, the average had been about 400 a year. My 10 year total has reached 12,405 monarchs counted for the Harrisville area!

Monarch Butterfly Presentation and Tagging August 31st, 2019

Monarch Butterfly Presentation & Tagging August 25, 2018

Monarch Presentation at Harrisville State Park, Saturday, August 26th, 2017

Six monarchs about to be tagged.

Tagging a monarch.

Placing a tag on the Discal Scale.

Yes, the tag goes right there!

Monarch Presentation at Harrisville State Park, Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Northern most monarch sighting.

She did it!

Tagging a monarch.

Monarch on it's way.

Monarch Presentation at Harrisville State Park, Saturday, August 29th, 2015

Six monarchs ready to tag.

Placing the monarchs into the car.

Arriving at the park and setting up.

First tagged monarch to be released.

Second tagged monarch to be released.

Tagging number three.

Tagging number four.

Releasing number four.

Tagging number five while a couple look at number four that flew into the pines.

Number six with tag being released.

Monarch Presentation at Harrisville State Park, Saturday, August 30th, 2014

Monarch Presentation at Harrisville State Park, Saturday, August 31st, 2013

THERE WAS A VERY BAD DROUGHT YEAR IN 2013. THE VERNAL POOLS WERE ALL DRIED UP ALONG THE LAKESHORE. I COULD NOT RAISE OR CAPTURE MONARCHS FOR THE PRESENTATION AS THEY WERE ABSENT.