The Monarch Monitoring Project is a long-term study on monarch migration through Cape May, NJ. It is a part of the New Jersey Audubon Research Department, and closely affiliated with the Cape May Bird Observatory.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Midday Update 9/24/19

Tuesday morning brought northwest breezes and brilliant sunshine to Cape May Point, and it also brought a gradual increase in monarch numbers.  Early in the morning we saw some monarchs flying around, not many but more than the last few days.  As the morning progressed the numbers gradually increased, and by midday we were seeing a few monarchs drifting overhead every minute or two.  Most were seen right along the dunes, or from the hawkwatch at Cape May Point State Park (where a very good hawk flight is taking place).  A few monarchs were settling into the gardens, but many more were seen flying overhead.  It's possible that many just continued across Delaware Bay and are now on the other side.

Monarch at Cape May Point State Park, Tuesday morning 9/24/19

Northwest winds are predicted to continue all afternoon.  We know better than to make bold predictions, the butterflies keep us humble by surprising us, but our best guess is that numbers will continue to gradually increase at Cape May Point, and that by mid-afternoon more monarchs will be visiting flowers in the area's gardens and parks.  There may be some small roosts of 20 - 50 monarchs forming late in the afternoon, most likely along Harvard Ave., next to the dunes, or along the trail behind the dunes at Cape May Point State Park.

We'll post another update tomorrow, or sooner if monarch numbers or behaviors change dramatically.

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