Monarch Butterflies Rest in Central Iowa on Their Way South in 2010 The fall migration of monarch butterflies is under way over central Iowa, and field observations are being carried out at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge to assess the movement. The first two monarch butterflies of spring 2011 were observed in our butterfly garden in central Iowa on May 12. The two monarchs showed up earlier than ones in previous years. Monarch activity continued in our garden throughout the summer. The first monarch of the 2010 season
was spotted in the garden on May 23. In two previous years,
the first monarchs were noted here on May 19 in 2009 and May 21 in 2008. Five monarchs were around the garden on May 23 of this year, and two were noted May 24. During July and August, monarch activity was observed nearly every day. Monarchs continued to come into the garden during the fall migration time. This "Save the Monarch" site
is devoted to documenting the monarch movements in spring, summer, and
fall across central Iowa. Check the reports for the fall
2009 migration, fall 2010 and fall 2011. See the fall 2008 migration reports for details on the day-by-day movements south. Field observations have been carried
out in central Iowa for 14 years to determine the monarch migration
activity and how it fits into the bigger story of the yearly monarch
migrations across the country. In three recent summers, field research
also studied monarch activities in central Iowa. For more information on the monarchs'
movement north in the springtime and south in autumn, visit the superb
site of Journey North,
where you will find daily reports and weekly updates of the movements
north and south. The fall 2010 migration of monarch butterflies in central Iowa was loaded with activity. A late arrival on September 24 provided a wonderful scene for monarch observers.Visits to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge indicated significant movement of the monarchs as they made their way south. September 4 was a pivotal day in the observations of the first larger numbers of the monarchs, and a week later, monarchs were being noted in record-setting numbers. On September 11, the count was 3,085 monarchs. The migration appeared to be ending, but more than 1,000 monarchs provided a beautiful surprise on September 24. The last of the migrating monarchs were seen at Neal Smith September 30. The first 2010 monarchs were observed visiting
various spring flowers in our garden in the early days. One was nectaring
on a Dame's Rocket. On Sunday, June 6, another was noted nectaring on
the flowers of one of our catalpa trees. In July and August, monarchs were seen daily
in our garden, and overall butterfly activity was strong. As noted
elsewhere in the country, red admirals seemed to be more prolific in 2010; they certainly were in our garden. In our butterfly garden in Altoona
in central Iowa, the first monarch of spring 2009 was observed on Tuesday,
May 19. It was flying in and out of the garden. In 2008, the first monarch
was seen in our garden on May 21. Judging from the 2010 date of first
sighting as May 23, the monarchs' arrival in this area had been fairly consistent--but not in 2011. After observation of the first monarch
of the spring in 2008, monarch activity continued in June and July,
slacked off for a bit, then became strong during the first two weeks
of August. Five or more monarchs could be seen nearly every day flying
around the garden in early August. This pattern continued for the most
part in the spring/summer of 2009. Monarch activity also was strong throughout
the summer months of 2007 in our butterfly garden, indicating a healthy
population. Five or more monarchs were noted daily in June, July, and
August. In early June, monarchs were observed layng eggs on the milkweed
plants in the garden, and a common summer sight was two or three monarchs
chasing each other over the wildflowers. In the summer of 2008, monarchs
were seen laying eggs on the milkweeds in our garden, and daily sightings
were occurring in early July. The first monarch of the spring 2007
was observed in our butterfly garden on May 12, 2007. The next day the
second monarch was noted. And the monarch activity in our garden was
the heaviest that year in a number of summers. The milkweeds, host plant
for the monarchs, are abundant in our garden, and they provide plenty
of possibilities for monarchs to lay their eggs. Turning to the fall 2008 migration,
on Friday, September 5, nearly 300 monarchs were observed at Neal Smith
National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City, Iowa, and in our butterfly
garden in Altoona, Iowa. The monarchs were a welcome surprise as the
fall movement of migrating monarchs had been limited judging from observations
in late August and early September at Neal Smith refuge and in our butterfly
garden. But by mid-September, migrating monarchs were being seen in
significant numbers at the refuge, and observations on two days turned
up counts of 1240 and 1002 monarchs--a surprising strong number compared
with previous years. Observing monarchs is a great way
to study our natural surroundings. They can be found across the United
States. In late June 2007, for example, I observed a monarch flying
north along Nauset Light Beach on Cape Cod--a special sighting in that
the butterfly was just miles from where Henry Beston wrote his nature
classic, "The Outermost House." At that time, Beston noted
the passing of monarchs making their way south in the fall migration.
The butterfly I observed in 2007 was at the most eastern point in the
continental United States! Again in June 2008, I saw a single monarch
flying along the Atlantic Ocean shore in the same area. Important News: Neal Smith Named
as One of 13 Protected Areas for Monarch Butterflies Officials in Mexico, the United States,
and Canada have formed a Trilateral Monarch Butterfly Sister Protected
Area Network to share information and to work for ways to save the monarch
butterfly. Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa is one of 13
preserves to be identified as protected areas in the three nations.
Details of the network were worked out earlier in 2006 during meetings
in Mexico and California, and international agreements will be signed
to carry out the plan. See a listing
of the 13 areas.
This "Save the Monarch" site
also includes field reports on the
monarchs as they passed through central Iowa in fall 2005. Go also to
the fall 2004 reports on the Iowa migration. This is the 14th year of these reports.
To compare the migration days in various years, you can study other
reports for the years 1997, 1998,
1999, 2000,
2001, 2002,
and 2003. See also the Monarch Monitoring
Project at Cape May, N.J. Careful field observations over the
past years provide some interesting details concerning the migration
of monarchs over central Iowa each autumn. The peak migration days changed somewhat
between 1997 and 2005--a period of nine autumns of migration. During
that time, the migrations have been observed in our butterfly garden
in Altoona, Iowa; at Chichaqua Bottoms wildlife area in northeast Polk
County, and at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie
City, Iowa. Judging from the field observations,
the peak day of migration in 1997 was Friday, September 19. In 1998,
the peak days were Wednesday, September 16, and Thursday, September
17. In 1999, the peak day was Saturday, September 11. Peak days in 2000 were Sunday, September
10, and Monday, September 11. In the autumn of 2001, the peak day was
the earliest during the five years--on Saturday, September 8. In 2002, the peak days were Friday,
September 13, and Saturday, September 14. In autumn 2003, the peak migration
days fell on Sunday, September 14, and Monday, September 15--nearly
paralleling the days of 2002. A heavy migration count also was noted
on Saturday, September 6, 2003. In 2004, the peak day was registered
much later on Wednesday, September 22. In 2005, the peak day was Thursday,
September 8. Beautiful Word Picture Tells of
2003 Migration Over Lake Michigan On Tuesday, September 9, 2003, this field report
came in to the "Save the Monarch" Web site from an observer
in southwest Michigan: "Tonight, about an hour before sundown,
I was boating on Lake Michigan near the eastern shoreline just south
of St. Joseph, Michigan. I was about 1/2 mile offshore. There were hundreds
of monarch butterflies headed south. My wife and I observed a constant
flow of them for over a half hour. They were flying, I would say, 75
to 200 feet up. Wind was very light--about 3 to 5 knots out of the north,
and the butterflies were all headed south...They would fly upward, then
soar a long time on the air currents. Some would spiral upward--head
high--but facing into the wind. We actually followed some of them in
our boat for at least a half mile with them flying in this attitude...I
have lived in Michigan for over 20 years and boated on Lake Michigan
the same amount of time, but I have never seen this many monarch butterflies
at once--it was fantastic."--From John Steves, St. Joseph, Mich. Think of the beauty on the land and how
monarch butterflies contribute to it. Think of a land where there would
be no more monarchs. Could that happen? Some experts think it could.
Why not join in the call to save the monarchs before they disappear
forever? Monarchs represent the natural beauty of the universe
and a continuity in life. Their fall migration is a beauty to behold;
their arrival in the spring is a confirmation of continuity. The Internet represents a perfect place to tell their
story and to link people with the common interest of saving them for
all times. This site was established to provide resources for learning
more about monarchs; to provide links to other Internet sites that are
tracking the progress of them; and to include my observations of more
than 30 years of writing, photographing, and thinking about them. The photograph at the top was taken in the summer 2006
at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City, Iowa. My home
is east of Des Moines, Iowa, in Altoona, where we have an extensive
butterfly garden.
Visit the new Digital Nature
Art Gallery to view original photographs redesigned using the computer.
See also Gallery No. 2.
Monarch butterfly activity was considerable in late
July and August in central Iowa. In our butterfly garden, it was common
every day to see 5 to 10 or more monarchs feeding on the flowers. See
one group of three. Check out the
fall 2001 migration reports on this site (Fall
Migration 2001). For the best overall picture of monarch migration
in America and Mexico, go to the Journey South Web
site for weekly migration updates beginning Aug. 30, 2001. And note
movements of the monarchs across the nation by going to Journey North/South
Web
site, the 2001 Monarch
Monitoring Project at Cape May Point, N.J., and the Chincoteague
Monarch Monitoring Project at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge,
Assateague Island, Virginia. Summer 2001 Monarch Activity Monarch activity picked up in our butterfly garden
in late July 2001. On Tuesday, July 24, four monarchs were spotted
feeding on the prairie coneflowers and phlox. On Thursday, July 26,
at least a half dozen monarchs were spending time in the front garden.
See one monarch visitor. On Sunday,
July 29, 45 to 50 monarchs were observed along the roadways in central
Iowa and in our butterfly garden--where 10 monarchs were putting on
a show flying in and out of the garden.
Monarchs in the News The first strong indication that the fall migration of monarch butterflies
was under way in central Iowa came on August 28. In the late afternoon,
migrating monarchs could be seen flying over the highways in the area
and in our butterfly garden. The next day, unseasonably hot weather
set in for several days in the area, and the migration appeared to slow
down. But by Friday, September 8, much heavier monarch activity was
observed, and on Sunday and Monday, September 10-11, the monarchs were
seen in large numbers. Reports on the migration can be found here throughout
autumn (Fall Migration 2000). Nationally, an excellent Annenberg Foundation and CPB site is providing
weekly updates on the migration of monarchs and other wildlife (Journey
North/Journey South). On the site, see specific details
on how a major cold front affected the movement of migrating monarchs
through Iowa.
I must be the child of a cottonwood tree, blowing forever in the wind,
I must be the child of a monarch butterfly, soaring forever off in time. I must be a part of cloudy, windy days, whipping and churning on the
land, I must be a part of the earth and the sky, for out there, I feel
as one. Chorus: Time it has no beginning, Time it has no end, Life seems to
go on forever, If only for a monarch on the wind. I must be a child of the straightest of oaks, putting
down roots for all time, I must be a child of the swallow up on high,
dipping and soaring in the wind. I must be child of the wildest of flowers, coming back again and again,
I must be a part of the earth and the sky, for out there, I feel as
one. Chorus: Time it has no beginning, Time it has no end, Life seems to
go on forever, If only for a monarch on the wind.
In Iowa--as in other agricultural areas around the
world--a contradiction exists: Milkweeds are the host plants for monarch
caterpillars, and milkweeds are considered to be a farmer's enemy. We
grow milkweeds in our butterfly garden to provide for the monarchs,
and every summer we find numerous caterpillars that end up as beautiful
monarchs. The monarch caterpillar in one of the smaller photographs
is on a Common Milkweed. Plant a milkweed or two, save the monarch. Among the best flowers for attracting monarchs in
summertime are purple coneflowers (right), black-eyed susans, cosmos,
zinnias, phlox, daylilies, liatris, and the butterfly milkweeds. But
the more varieties of flowers you plant, the more likely you are to
attract monarchs and other species of butterflies. In autumn as migration
time comes, the asters--purple, pink, red and yellow--are all important
ones to have in your garden. And the butterfly bushes are especially
appealing to monarchs. We find that sunflowers and Indian cup plants
also attract them.(See Butterfly Garden
Under Construction) The migrating monarchs especially like places to roost
overnight. In our garden, they have used oaks, hackberries, ashes, and
apple trees as resting places. It's a beautiful sight to see a hundred
monarchs on the branches of an oak tree in the dying light of an autumn
day.
Digital nature art can be viewed by going to
the Digital Nature Art Gallery.
Fall 2001 Monarch Travels
Other Contents
Fall 2000 Monarch Migration
Fall 1999 Monarch Migration
Spring 1999 Monarch Activity
Autumn 1998 Migration
Spring 1998 Monarch Activity
Autumn 1997 Migration
Why Not a State Insect?
Monarch's Child
Save the Milkweed, Save the Monarch
Monarch Resources
Save an Image, Save the Monarch
Fall 1999 Monarch Migration
On Labor Day, Monday, September 6, the monarch activity
picked up considerably in our butterfly garden and across the roadways
of central Iowa. Cooler weather to the north in Minnesota, Wisconsin,
North Dakota and South Dakota was pushing the monarchs on the way south.
The cooler weather continued throughout the week, and numerous monarchs
were sighted in central Iowa.Watch here for the latest details of the
1999 migration (Fall Migration 1999)
Spring 1999 Monarch Activity
On Monday, May 10, two monarchs were spotted in central
Iowa--the first of the season. By the week of May 17-21, single monarchs
were regularly visiting our butterfly garden and searching out the early
flowers. The following week--on Wednesday, May 26--monarch activity picked
up considerably. At least 10 monarchs were in the butterfly garden during
the day, and numerous monarchs were seen along the roadways in central
Iowa. Nationally, the Annenberg and CPB site continues its excellent reporting
on monarch migrations. Visit
Journey North for weekly details on the Spring 1999 migration.
Autumn 1998 Migration
In mid-August in central Iowa, the purple New England
asters were beginning to bloom, and some monarch butterflies were stirring,
hinting that the migration time was not far away. Keep a watch here for
the latest details of the migration (Fall Migration
1998). Check the Annenberg and CPB site for its continuing reports
on the migration of monarchs (Journey
South 1998). Visit the Monarch Monitoring Project at Cape May Point,
New Jersey (Report from
Cape May Point). Note what the naturalist Henry Beston wrote about
monarch migrations in times past (Beston's observations).
Spring 1998 Monarch Activity
The first monarchs of the spring in central Iowa were
seen in the final days of May 1998, and in our butterfly garden, the first
two monarch caterpillars were found on milkweed leaves on Friday, June
5. The two caterpillars were approximately one-quarter inch in length
when first discovered. Nationally, the 1998 northward migration of monarchs
was documented by Journey North News. See the superb site
Journey North for information on the spring migration of monarchs.
Beginning Feb. 10, 1998, and running through late spring, the site--an
Annenberg and CPB science and math project--posted weekly migration updates
each Tuesday. Check the site, too, for the spring 1997 monarch migration
details.
Autumn 1997 Migration
The autumn 1997 migration of monarch butterflies across
central Iowa appeared to reach its peak on Friday, Sept. 19, 1997. In
central Iowa, the monarch activity began increasing in late July 1997,
and by mid-August, the monarchs appeared to be readying for the migration
south. After years of observing monarchs in our butterfly garden, I've
come to recognize the day-by-day increase in monarch activity as the migration
time nears. Check here for details on the migration of the monarchs through
central Iowa and beyond. (Fall Migration 1997)
The Los Angeles Times reported on Sept. 11,1997, that the autumn 1997
migration might be at least 150 million butterflies. Check the Annenberg
and CPB site for excellent field reports on the monarchs' southerly migration
in 1997. (Journey
South)
Why Not a State Insect?
The monarch butterfly is designated as state insect or butterfly
in seven states, including Minnesota, Illinois, and Texas. Why not in
Iowa? A number of years ago, I wrote an article encouraging Iowa to
name the monarch butterfly as our state insect.(1991
Article)What a wonderful way it would be to help preserve our natural
heritage. With this Internet site, I'm renewing the appeal to Iowans:
Help save the monarch by urging state officials to name it as the state
insect. Perhaps other states could do so, too.
The Asters of Autumn
One of the most beautiful sights in nature is the fall migration
of the monarch butterfly. And one of the great flowers to attract the
monarchs is the purple New England aster. These asters grow from 4-
to 6-feet tall in our butterfly garden, and in the best of years, it's
not uncommon to see hundreds of monarchs flocking into the area at the
same time.
Monarch's Child
By Robert D. Woodward
copyright 1980
Save the Milkweed, Save the Monarch
Plant a Flower, Save the Monarch
Plant a Tree, Save the Monarch
Monarch Resources
The single most important book for reading about monarch
butterflies is "The Monarch Butterfly: International Traveler" by Fred
A. Urquhart. The book--published in 1987 by Nelson-Hall in Chicago--represents
the lifelong work of Urquhart. A more recent book (1995) by Diane Ackerman,
"The Rarest of the Rare: Vanishing Animals, Timeless Worlds," has a
chapter on the California wintering place for monarchs west of the Rocky
Mountains. Other worthwhile books are "Butterflies: How to Identify
and Attract Them to Your Garden" by Marcus Schneck (1990); "Butterfly
Gardening: Creating Summer Magic in Your Garden" published by Sierra
Club Books and the National Wildlife Federation (1990); and "The Butterfly
Garden: Creating Beautiful Gardens to Attract Butterflies" by Jerry
Sedenko (1991).
Monarch Links on the Internet
Fly away to some other Internet sites concerning monarchs
and other butterflies.
Monarch Watch
is a superb overview of an outreach program to preserve the monarch
population. On the site sponsored by the Department of Entomology at
the University of Kansas and the Department of Ecology, Evolution and
Behavior at the University of Minnesota, you can find material on monarch
biology, milkweeds, and tagging programs, among other things.
Monarch
Monitoring Project is another superb site from which to learn more
about monarch migrations at Cape May Point, New Jersey.
The Butterfly
WebSite is packed with excellent information about monarchs and
other butterflies.
The
Illinois State Insect site provides a good series of photographs
about the transformation of a monarch caterpillar into a chrysalis and
ultimately a butterfly.
The
Butterfly Habitat Garden at the Smithsonian Institution's National
Museum of Natural History is depicted in "Give Me a Home Where the Butterflies
Roam," an Internet presentation by Michelle Baker.
Save an Image, Save the Monarch
Revised: October 8, 2011
Copyright 1997 Robert
D. Woodward
Robert.Woodward@drake.edu
Drake University