Monarch Butterfly Migration Over Central
Iowa
in Fall 2003: Field Reports
By Robert D. Woodward
The third week in August 2003 brought signs the monarch butterflies were beginning to migrate over Iowa. Field trips to western Iowa and Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in central Iowa showed increased movement of the monarchs and hinted the major migration was soon to come. Check here for regular field reports.
Tuesday, August 19--A 380-mile round trip to western Iowa and the loess hills turned up substantial butterfly activity during the day. Monarch movement was seen regularly along the highways, and large numbers of painted lady butterflies were observed in the western counties. On a gravel road near Rodney in Monona County near the Little Sioux River, the painted ladies were swarming over the roadside and resting on the road in the heat of the sun. In the Missouri River valley, the monarchs were on the move.
Thursday, August 21--Seven monarchs were seen during a one-hour visit to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City. Within a week that number will pick up considerably as the heavy monarch movement begins to occur. The thistles, Jerusalem artichokes, goldenrod, Queen Anne's lace, tickseed sunflowers, and horsemint are among the flowers blooming amid the immense stands of big bluestem grasses. Back home in our butterfly garden in Altoona, five or more monarchs can be seen daily as the butterfly feeding activity picks up in the flowers. The native purple asters--a favorite for migrating monarchs--have not yet bloomed in our butterfly garden or in the Neal Smith refuge, but as if on call, nature will likely provide the purple colors as the heavy migrations begin to occur.
Sunday, August 24--Monarch butterfly activity picked up at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. During a one-hour, 15-minute visit in the morning, 40 monarchs were observed flying across the prairie and feeding on the wildflowers. Thistles are especially popular with the monarhs at this time. The big bluestem grasses provided a beautiful background to the morning as some of the monarchs flew and floated on a mild wind.
Monday, August 25--The heat of the day was oppressive, and there appeared to be little movement by the monarchs. During a 30-minute drive along the roadway in Neal Smith refuge during the late afternoon, only five monarchs were observed. The heat in Des Moines hit 101 in the afternoon. By week's end , cooler temperatures are predicted, and perhaps that will stir the activity of migrating monarchs.
Wednesday, August 27--The exceedingly warm weather continued in central Iowa, and monarch movement came to a halt for the most part. During a half-hour visit to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, a single monarch was observed. Numerous swallowtails were flying around the prairie wildflowers, however.
Friday, August 29--A cold front moved through Iowa on Thursday afternoon and evening, considerably cooling down the temperatures and bringing rainfall to some areas. The cooler weather Friday morning--in the low 70s--brought out the monarch butterflies once again at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. During a one-hour, 15-minute visit, 35 monarchs were observed flying to and fro across the prairie. The thistles, some as tall as 7 to 8 feet, continued to provide the favorite nectaring points this day. The tickseed sunflowers, goldenrod, and Jerusalem artichoke --favorites at one time or another in past years--were not attracting the monarchs although the plants' various shades of yellow are brightening the prairie scenes. The wind was blowing briskly, and the monarchs were seen clinging to the thistle flower heads as the plants waved back and forth in the wind. The big bluestem grasses are 8 to 10 feet high in some areas of the refuge, and the billowing motion of the grasses is a natural sight to behold.
Saturday, August 30--A three-hour morning visit to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge produced the first magical moment of the developing monarch butterfly migration. During the first two-plus hours, 28 monarchs were observed along the roadway in the refuge. But in the final 30 minutes, a return to the northern area of the refuge led to dramatic results. Monarchs were coming into the tickseed sunflowers along the roadway and were flying around the thistles in the area. More than 100 monarchs were counted within the 30-minute span as the butterflies appeared as if by magic on the wildflowers. This was the first day in which the tickseed sunflowers had been a major nectaring stop during my observations, and the bright orange of the monarchs against the bright yellow of the flowers created a wonderful sight. The temperature in the morning was in the mid-60s, and the wind was blowing out of the north northeast. The total count for the morning observation was 132 monarchs plus numerous swallowtails and painted ladies.
Saturday's Monarch: Stopping Atop the Tickseed Sunflowers
Sunday, August 31--A light rain fell intermittently across central Iowa throughout the day, bringing some much needed moisture to the area and slowing the movement of the monarchs and other butterflies. During a 45-minute visit to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in the late afternoon, six monarchs were observed landing on thistles and flying around the area. Back home in our butterfly garden in Altoona, Iowa, no monarchs were seen, but a check of the sky turned up a single monarch--its shadow showing against the sky as it winged its way south.
Resting on a Drying Flower Head
Monday, September 1--The day was cool, the sky was partly cloudy, the wind was brisk out of the north northeast, and the monarchs were moving at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. During a three-hour visit in the morning, 246 monarchs were counted--with more than 100 of them being observed in the final hour as the day warmed to the mid-60s. The thistles and the tickseed sunflowers were the primary feeding attractions for the monarchs during the day. In numerous instances, monarchs in pairs or threes were seen racing to the south or chasing each other in the sky. In the early part of the morning, monarchs could be seen coming out of the big bluestem grasses where they likely had rested overnight.
Tuesday, September 2--The heavy monarch activity continued at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. A two-hour visit in the late afternoon turned up 236 monarchs nectaring on the flowers and floating across the prairie. The thistles continued to be the most popular wildflower for the feeding monarchs, and a stand of thistles on one small hilltop produced another monarch moment. At least 20 monarchs were nectaring on the thistles there, and suddenly many of them billowed up into the sky--flying in all directions. Once again, it was not uncommon to see twos and threes of monarchs swirling through the sky together. The day was clear and bright with a light wind from the south southeast and temperatures in the high 70s.
Thistles Are a Wildflower of Choice for Migrating Monarchs
Wednesday, September 3--Heavy movement of monarch butterflies was being reported today across central Iowa. Twenty monarchs were counted along the roadways on the drive to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. During a two-hour visit to the refuge in the afternoon, 210 monarchs were observed. Many were seen clinging to thistles while nectaring as the plants waved in a brisk wind from the north northeast. When the monarchs took to the air, they often were speeded along by strong gusts of wind.
Thursday, September 4--Another wonderful day of monarch watching at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. This visit turned up the most monarchs of the fall during a single census period--326 in two hours in the late afternoon. Several times, 10 to 15 monarchs were seen flying around stands of thistles--darting here and there as they fed and played with each other. On the open prairie, an especially beautiful sight is a monarch floating across the big bluestem grasses or over a flower-laden hillside.
Beautiful Blue Sky Creates a Monarch Background
Friday, September 5--Two separate visits were made to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge--one in the morning and one in the afternoon--to get a sense of monarch movement through the day. One-hundred seventy-one monarchs were counted during a mid-morning visit in an hour's time. Once again, the monarchs were making the thistles their wildflower of choice for feeding, and they were highly active as they raced and floated across the big bluestem on the prairie. In the afternoon during a two-hour count beginning at 3 p.m., 223 monarchs were noted. A number of the monarchs were flying over the prairie at higher levels than during the morning. Swallowtails and painted ladies continued to be highly active, too, throughout the day.
Painted Lady Butterflies Have Proliferated on the Prairies and in the Gardens Across Iowa
Saturday, September 6--Family members aided in the first half of a 2 1/2-hour count of monarchs at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Two of our granddaughters, ages 5 and 2, had their first field experience of tromping through the prairie grasses and watching the monarchs flying over their heads. In several instances, friendly monarchs flew around them for a short time--up close and unafraid. The observations for the morning turned up 370 monachs--the most yet in daily visits to the refuge. Today's Des Moines Register reported on the state's exceedingly dry weather, and areas of the refuge are showing the strains of lack of rain. Some wildflowers and grasses are suffering considerably and are drying out and dying. Ultimately, the dry weather may be having some effect on the timing of the monarch migration and the places the butterflies stop along the way.
Butterfly Garden Visit on a Sunday Afternoon
Sunday, September 7--On this afternoon, eight monarchs were paying visits to our butterfly garden in Altoona, Iowa. A monarch quickly found one of the few native purple asters to be blooming; many more asters have yet to bloom. It was a familiar sight to see the beauty of the monarch against one of the butterfly's most favorite of autumn wildflowers. Another popular stopping point in the garden was the goldenrod. Earlier in the day, the counting was continued at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. One-hundred fifty-two monarchs were observed during an hour in the morning on another bright and sunny day.
Monday, September 8--Ninety-eight monarchs were observed during a one-hour visit to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Most of them were feeding on thistles and/or flying across the prairie. A wind from the south was stronger than in previous days, and the temperature was in the mid-80s. Another clear day meant no moisture for the prairie plants, but the National Weather Service was predicting the passage of a cold front through the state later this week--with the possibility of rain. Perhaps the front will bring another surge of monarchs.
Watching for Monarchs Often Turns Up Iowa's State Bird--The Goldfinch
Tuesday, September 9--One-hundred thirteen monarchs were counted during a one-hour visit to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. The day was cloudy, and the wind was blowing strongly from the south. The big bluestem grasses continue to paint a prairie landscape as they roll and wave in the wind.The goldfinches and hummingbirds are quite busy in the fields as they feed on the thistles.
Wednesday, September 10--The numbers of monarchs continued to diminish from previous days, but the projections for weather in the next few days suggested a cold front might bring another wave of the butterflies through central Iowa. During a half-hour visit to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in the late afternoon, 23 monarchs were counted. A strong wind from the south southeast appeared to be limiting the monarch movement.
Finally, a Storm Came Across the Prairie
Thursday, September 11--On this day, the second anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy in New York City and Washington, D.C., the prairie was stirring with the coming of a cold front from the west. The sky was a spectacular scene as the clouds shifted and moved in, painting an ever-changing picture on the Iowa landscape. The day was not one for monarch movements at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge; 11 monarchs were observed in an hour in the late afternoon. Back home in our butterfly garden a bit later, five monarchs were seen, and several of them were roosting on the dry twigs of a pin oak tree. About 6 p..m., the rain began to fall, bringing some much needed moisture to the drought-stricken area.
Friday, September 12--In the wake of Thursday's rain, a cold front, and cooler weather, hundreds of monarchs were on the move over central Iowa today. As the sky cleared, 31 monarchs were counted in 20 minutes as they floated in from the north and into our butterfly garden in Altoona, Iowa. A brief drive turned up 37 monarchs flying over the roadways, and elsewhere in central Iowa, monarchs were reported in heavy numbers.
Saturday, September 13--Rainfall throughout most of the day limited monarch movement in central Iowa. During a visit in the morning to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, two monarchs were observed flying in the rain, but little activity was seen elsewhere throughout the day. Meantime, the Des Moines Register carried a highly interesting story by the Associated Press concerning monarch activity in western Iowa in recent days. In Sergeant Bluff and Bronson, according to the Associated Press, Iowans in those two places saw thousands of monarchs roosting in the trees.
Four Monarchs Stop on the Way South to Feed on Thistles
Sunday, September 14--This was another big day in the migration of monarchs through central Iowa. The morning was cool, the sky was clearing, and the monarchs were on the move again. In two and one-half hours in the late morning, 317 monarchs were counted at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Some were flying speedily to the south, and others were stopping to feed on thistles on the prairie. In an area where only two monarchs had been seen on Saturday, the sky and the thistles were alive with the butterflies. Monarchs also were seen moving across the roadways and gardens during the day.
Monday, September 15--In the heart of a large patch of 8-foot-plus thistles and Jerusalem artichokes at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, a feeding frenzy of monarch and painted lady butterflies was observed for an hour in the late afternoon. The butterflies were flying everywhere above the flowers. . As many as 10 or more monarchs would suddenly shoot up into the air from the plants where they were nectaring, creating a natural moment with their movements against the blue sky. Painted ladies by the hundreds were darting here and there, stopping briefly before moving on to the next plants. In the hour, 221 monarchs were counted--including a mating pair hanging on a thistle in the midst of the prairie jungle of tall plants. This was a moment to remember and a testament to the beauty and surprises of the natural world. It also suggested the monarch migration was still peaking in central Iowa.
One Monarch Rests Away From a Strong Wind While Two Others Find a Feeding Spot
Tuesday, September 16--A strong southerly wind hampered major monarch movement at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge on this afternoon. But in the tall stands of prairie grasses and wildflowers, monarchs could be observed resting amid the quiet of the plants near the ground and occasionally feeding on the thistles. An estimated 150 monarchs were observed in a favorite feeding area within an hour during the late afternoon.
Wednesday, September 17--An afternoon visit on the prairie at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge clearly illustrated the difficult journey monarch butterflies face in migrating south to the mountains of Mexico and their overwintering site. A wind from the south southeast at 35 miles an hour was churning up the prairie habitat, and any monarch venturing into the skies was being blown about in erratic directions. Five or six monarchs tried to come up out of the big bluestem grasses, only to be cast about in the wind. On the ground, amid the taller wildflowers and grasses, an estimated 20 to 25 monarchs were discovered resting safely. A cold front was predicted to pass through Iowa Thursday with rain a possibility, and overnight temperatures are headed down into the 40s--so the monarchs may be on the move again as the weekend approaches.
Thursday, September 18--Rainfall during the day brought the monarch movements to a halt, and by Thursday night, the temperature started falling toward the predicted low 40s.
One Monarch Chooses a Thistle and Another Favors Jerusalem Artichoke
Friday, September 19--The morning temperature hit a low of 43 degrees, and a mild wind was blowing from the north northwest at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. In two hours during the morning, only seven monarchs were counted. One of the monarchs was nectaring on a Jerusalem artichoke--one of the favorite wildflowers for monarchs in the late migration of the fall 2002. The native purple asters are now in full bloom at the refuge, too, but not one monarch was seen on the flowers. The asters normally are popular with migraring monarchs when larger numbers of the butterflies are around the area.
Monarchs Find the Native Purple Asters
Saturday, September 20--Forty monarchs were counted at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge on a cool, sunny morning, indicating the butterflies still were on the move. In a stand of native purple asters, the monarchs had arrived at one of their favorite nectaring sources during migration time. The monarchs' color provided a striking picture on the purple flowers, and the butterflies were fluttering from flower to flower. Adding to the beauty of the day, a flock of an estimated 150 pelicans passed over the refuge on the way south.
Sunday, September 21--Rainfall beginning in the morning limited the monarchs from moving during the day.
Monday, September 22--The movement of monarchs across Iowa appears to be diminishing. On a cool and windy afternoon, eight monarchs were observed during a 40-minute visit to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.
Tuesday, September 23--Five monarchs were observed during a 45-minute visit to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Three were feeding on the purple asters. The day was clear to partly cloudy, and a breeze was blowing from the south. A report in today's Des Moines Register notes the field monitoring being done on the monarch migration.
Thursday, September 25--Across the Midwest and the nation, countless individuals are working in their own ways on behalf of preserving monarch butterflies in our natural environment. A story in the Toledo (Ohio) Blade today reports on a woman who has spent 30 years working to protect monarchs. According to the Blade report, she estimates "she has tagged more than 100.000 butterflies over the years."
Friday, September 26--Occasional monarchs are being sighted in central Iowa, but the numbers have declined considerably. Reports continue to flow in concerning the abundance of painted lady butterflies across the Midwest. A story in today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch tells of the heavy numbers of painted ladies in that area, and here in central Iowa, friends continue to report their sightings. At Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, the painted ladies have been bountiful for several weeks.
Painted Ladies Are a Common Sight These Days at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
October 8, 2003--No monarch butterflies have been observed in central Iowa since late September. Numbers of painted ladies still can be seen in the area.
October 19, 2003--A single monarch flew through the front part of our butterfly garden in Altoona, Iowa. This was the latest sighting of the autumn, and the butterfly likely was not migrating.
