It's happening.
"Monarch butterflies are fluttering back to California’s coast, and volunteers across the West have been busy surveying overwintering sites for the 2025 Western Monarch Count (WMC)."
That's what conservation biologist Isis Howard of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation announced today. "Early reports estimate approximately 5,000 monarchs observed so far, though data are still coming in," Howard reported. "Last year's early-season count tallied 7,601 butterflies. (View past years' data here)."
Howard noted that "Similar to last season, Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz is a standout site, sheltering around 1,100 monarchs as of 10/29/25. Numbers at Lighthouse Field are also climbing quickly, more than doubling over the last two weeks (up to 979 as of 11/1/25). A site in west Marin has topped 500, and other popular sites, including Pismo State Beach (235 on 10/29/25) in San Luis Obispo County, Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary (63 on 10/30/25, weekly PG count updates posted here) in Monterey County, and Gill Tract (87 on 10/24/25) in Alameda County, are showing early clusters that may continue to grow in the weeks ahead."
"The early-season count officially ended Sunday, Nov. 2," Howard shared, "and we can’t wait to see the full picture once all data are submitted. Visit WesternMonarchCount.org to follow along (results are usually published a few weeks after each survey period). If you'd like to visit overwintering sites near you, check out our recent blog: ”Everything You Need To Know About Visiting Overwintering Monarchs."
Meanwhile, fluttering monarchs wowed the crowd when Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl performed Nov. 1 in the Vacaville Museum courtyard in observance of (1) the gallery exhibit, "The Art of Death" (which ends Nov. 15) and (2) "The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)."
YouTube caption: The Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl performs in the Vacaville Museum Courtyard on Nov. 1.
In the Day of the Dead celebration, skeletons and monarch butterflies are intertwined. Nov. 1 is celebrated as the day that the migratory monarchs arrive in Mexico to overwinter, and when the souls of loved ones return to Earth. "While traditions may vary in celebrations, to many the return of the monarch symbolizes the souls of the dead returning to visit each year," according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Skeletons, or "calacas," portray death as a part of life, and are incorporated in art, decorations, and costumes alongside butterfly imagery.
"Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl (also known as BFN) has been in existence since 1996 under the direction and founder, Maestro Netza Vidal," said spokesperson Eva Worsham. "The group consists of over 120 dancers ages 4 and up. We have groups in Santa Rosa, San Rafael, Concord and Vacaville. We’ve had the honor of performing for the Warriors' pre-game and half time show (4 years now), San Francisco Giants Pre Game, Six Flags, Disneyland and a host of community and private events. In addition, we are in partnership with Benioff Oakland Children’s Hospital where we host an annual showcase of all our dances where proceeds raised is donated to the hospital to help families with their medical expenses."
