If you see a roost, be sure to report it! https://maps.journeynorth.org/map/?year=2019&map=monarch-roost-fall
Members from our group reporting roosts:
Cammie (near Whittier, IA) reports - Monarchs have been roosting overnight in my yard every night since September 1. Slightly surprised since last year I didn’t notice roosting until about mid month. Wednesday morning located approximately 93 with around 50 in one tree. This morning found about 45. I like to start stalking them around 6:30 and they typically will have trees picked out and settling down by about 7:30. Some will still come in around dark. Wind direction is a key in determining the chosen spot. AND - Located approximately 100 this morning, Sunday September 8
September 8
Beverly from near Marengo, Sept. 8th - I finally have a roost in my maple and mulberry trees. It was like walking in a dream. Hard to put a count on them. My tree was covered. Maybe a 750. The migrators are here!
September 11
Cheryl (northeast of Belle Plaine) saw a roost of 200 to 300
Julie in Davenport witnessed a small roost
Sept 12
Brenda, from Sutherland, had about 50 roosting
Kim, from Newton, 50+ monarchs - In all these years I’ve never seen Monarchs roosting! Today I did! Right across the street from my house. What an incredible experience.
Sept 13
Gwen in Deep River observed about 70
Linda, near West Branch saw a sizeable roost - Such a miraculous sight!
Sept 14
Renae, from Dunkerton - My back yard is full of monarchs!
Sept 15
Cheryl in Belle Plaine - Roost #2 this year for me! 6 pm 9/15/19 (in the middle of town)! These were everywhere! Was mowing late afternoon and noticed them flying around out back in the wooded area. They were not in huge groups but there were LOTS of groups of 4-30 in a group! They were even on the tall weeds! Guessing around 500!!! Every where I walked, Monarchs would fly! LOVE THIS!!!!
Jim from the Monona Butterfly Garden, Monona, IA - Monarchs have been roosting in and around Monona this week. Last night a roost of 650 was observed in the Monona Butterfly Garden. Tonight, we went down to count monarchs and found none. We saw only 3 monarchs all day. This may indicate the migration has moved south out of Northeast Iowa.
Scott, just North of Ankeny - My yard is being swarmed! Hundreds of roosting Monarchs tonight!
Sept 17, 2019
Jim (Monona Butterfly Garden) After two days with no monarchs roosting in the Butterfly Garden trees, an estimate of 700 tonight! Nectar source now is New England Aster and Macmillan Sunflower.
Sept 18, 2019
Jim (Monona Butterfly Garden) Many small groups of 10-75 total estimate tonight is 850. New England Aster is finally blooming and a big draw here. we even have them in our yard trees now.
Dave (Des Moines area) The migration is in full force in central Iowa. Yesterday late afternoon and evening I witnessed a continual stream of monarchs flying south 50-100 yards high. At a stoplight at a 235W entrance in Des Moines, around 4:30, I saw at least 50 streaming past in the short time waiting for green. They appeared to be traveling together, same height and following each other. Later I tagged 10 in a resting spot I accidentally located a couple weeks ago...in this spot I tagged 25 over 2 days 9/11-12.
Sept 19, 2019
Jim - Roost count tonight at Monona Butterfly Garden is 900. Note: first year since 2003 we have seen roosts over 100 and several of those years, there were no roosts at all. (2011 & 2012)
Read a Journey North blog about other amazing sightings
https://journeynorth.org/monarchs/news/fall-2019/09192019-amazing-year-eastern-migratory-monarch-population
Sept 20, 2019
Jim - My home very near the butterfly garden 110, Monona Butterfly Garden 1120, Friends house 350. Total roost count tonight from Monona is 1580..They are definitely on the move in large numbers. Our friend said the two hours earlier their roost was 3-4 times larger so some must have moved on.
Sept 21,2091
Jim - Total estimate this evening 1285 at the Monona Butterfly Garden and 335 in neighbors trees
Dave, Des Moines area - Saw 2 different roosts today, one I was invited to this morning, and one where we’ve been tagging monarchs...today more monarchs than the previous times by far. 100s...not sure how to even estimate the number.
Sepr 23
Cammie - NE of Marion - . Six large clusters of 100-200 and many smaller. Figured it would be a good day with the weather recently. They have been there all afternoon.
Dave - Des Moines area - If you get a chance to be outside today, look up..Monarchs pouring through central Iowa right now, likely the same throughout the state. Stepped on my deck and literally saw a dozen in a few minutes...soaring, circling ... all headed south...saw a similar amount driving a mile down the road for lunch. Enjoy!!
Jim -Butterfly Garden, Monona - Roost estimate is 1000 for tonight. The west wind slowed their progress. Monarchs were everywhere in town and large numbers crossing the highways in south and westerly directions.
Sept 24
Jim - Monona Butterfly Garden - 1400 tonight. strong SSW wind has slowed them down again. the monarchs are roosting significantly lower in the trees and shrubs tonight Roosting on the north and east sides of trees. Cannot remember ever having roosting monarchs for more than 4-5 days, it's almost 2 weeks now!!
Sept 25
Amy from Waterloo - Oh em geeeeeee.... I am stoked that I found these guys hanging out in our trees! I have no idea how to even estimate because they were lots of individual roosting spots all over our tree lines. I may or may not have taken a stupid number of photos of them!
Jim from Monona Butterfly Garden - could be the last monarch roost post this year, 1 roost of 60 monarchs in Monona at the butterfly garden. All the others are on their way to see you all on their way to Mexico.
Sept 26
Susan from Iowa City - My 4 year old and I counted 27 Monarchs in flight over a few MINUTES in the Iowa City area. Made my heart so happy! What we do makes a difference! (Other members also stated they saw monarchs in flight heading south.)
Nancy from Central City - photographed a roost in her backyard.
