Explore the Monarch Journey by participating in weekly larva surveys in late May through September and tagging adult Monarchs in September. All training provided!
Monarchs are one of North America’s best-known butterflies, and every year, hundreds of millions of Monarchs migrate north in the spring, passing through Missouri, and then south in the fall to overwinter in Mexico. Some of the Monarchs also spend their summer in Missouri. These phenomenal migrations are some of the longest migrations of any insect, and Monarchs can travel up to a total of 3,000 miles to their destination. If you want to learn more about Monarch butterflies and get some hands-on experience with these beautiful insects, join Laura Semken with the Missouri Conservation Corps to explore the Monarch journey and participate in the Monarch Watch community science project.
Monarch Watch is an education, conservation, and research program based at the University of Kansas that focuses on Monarch butterflies. Every fall, the program calls upon citizen scientist volunteers to tag and report data to Monarch Watch. When tagged Monarchs are recovered at stopover sites or at their overwintering site, scientists can calculate how far and for how long that Monarch had been traveling. This data helps researchers track migration patterns and discover more about Monarch biology and behavior. Since the program’s creation in 1992, more than 2 million Monarchs have been tagged and more than 31,000 sites have been registered. Peer-reviewed articles that have utilized data from Monarch Watch are available in the MonarchNet library.
Get Involved with Surveys
May 26 – September 14
This summer, from late May through September, weekly egg and larva surveys will be conducted for the Big Muddy Wildlife Refuge at Overton Bottoms South. The surveys will help inform management decisions that could benefit monarchs during their entire life cycle, including their journey to Mexico. For more information about attending larva surveys, including dates and times, please email [email protected].
Note: There are no bathroom facilities or water at Overton Bottoms South.
Get Involved in Tagging
Tagging programs will occur during the Monarch fall migration in September.
Drop-in program dates with hiking and tagging, along with a migration game. Fun for the whole family! Come for the whole morning or just a little while. No need to RSVP.
- Saturday, September 19: 9 – Noon, Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary, Columbia, MO
- Saturday, September 26: 9 – Noon, Big Muddy Wildlife Refuge Headquarters
Formal program dates to explore the Monarch journey and participate in the Monarch Watch community science research project by learning how and why Monarchs are tagged. No need to RSVP.
- Monday, September 21: 5:00 – 6:30pm at Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary, Columbia, MO
- Monday, September 28: 5:00 – 6:30pm at Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary, Columbia, MO
Locations:
- Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary at 3300 W Rollins Rd, Columbia, MO 65203
- Big Muddy Wildlife Refuge Headquarters at 18500 Brady Lane Boonville, MO 65233
FYI: Nets will be provided. Water and bathrooms are available at the formal and drop-in Monarch tagging programs. Catching butterflies could involve going off the trail. Boots and long pants are recommended, along with herbal mosquito repellent. Please be sure to wash your hands after applying repellent (Monarchs are insects, so products containing DEET are especially toxic).
All ages are welcome to participate in all programs! Email Laura Semken at [email protected] for more information or to RSVP.
