by Laura Semken

Monarchs are one of North America’s best-known butterflies, and every year, hundreds of millions of Monarchs migrate south to overwinter in Mexico. This phenomenal migration is one 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 community science 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 can be found here.

This fall, educational programs and tagging experiences are being offered in and near Columbia, Missouri where migrating monarchs enjoy refueling on fall blooming flowers like ironweed, goldenrod, and asters.

Monarch life stages surveys for USFWS will be held Mondays, August 25, September 1, 8, 15 from 5:30 – 7pm at Overton Bottoms South on Cumberland Church Road. We will meet at the kiosk promptly at 5:30. From there we will disperse. If we see Monarchs, we will attempt to tag them. Nets will be provided. You will be in vegetation over your head. Please dress accordingly. No water or bathrooms available.

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 will be held:

Monday, September 22: 5:30 – 7pm at Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary, Columbia, MO

Monday, September 29: 5 – 6:30pm at Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary, Columbia, MO

This location offers mowed trails, water and bathrooms, and you can participate without going off the trail.

Family Day style programs will include a hike and tagging, along with a migration game, crafts and stories. This will be fun for the whole family! Come for the whole morning or just a little while:

Saturday, September 20: 9 – Noon, Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary, Columbia, MO

Saturday, September 27: 9 – Noon, Big Muddy Wildlife Refuge Headquarters for the National Public Lands Day of Service.

These locations offer mowed trails, water, and bathrooms, and you can participate without going off the trail.

The Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary is located at 3300 W Rollins Rd, Columbia, MO 65203.

The Big Muddy Wildlife Refuge Headquarters is located at 18500 Brady Lane Boonville, MO 65233.

Nets will be provided. 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 laurasemken@gmail.com for more information or with any questions.