Albany Hill Monarchs

[Paul Cherubini]

> In early January, there were a lot of monarchs at Albany
> Hill in California. Seems like 90% of them are gone now.
> Did they leave for other overwintering sites? Did they get
> eaten? Did the rain kill them? Are they hiding
> someplace? Anybody know? Thanks.
 
Gary Stell and I saw about 500 monarchs atop Albany Hill
in Berkeley, Calif. on Jan. 6. The clusters at this site
have always broken up and dispersed by late January. The
butterflies become free flying individuals in the nearby area
unassociated with any specific aggregation site. Indeed, they
are so dispersed one sometimes has the impression they aren't
even around anymore.
 
About 4 miles to the north of Albany Hill there is the
University of Calif. Richmond Field Station overwintering
site. The monarchs at this site tend to cluster longer into
the winter (well into February in some years).
 
Paul Cherubini, Placerville, Calif.
 
 
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