Monarch Tagging Station

Monarchs are sexed, weighed, and assessed before placing a tag on them.

Monarch Monitoring

Jeanine Ging heads our Monarch Tagging Program. She is the recipient of the 2021 EarthKind Harmony Hero Award (click here to see her video) for her work in teaching youngsters about the wonderous journey of the Monarch, and for creating an outdoor classroom that is certified as a Monarch Waystation.

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Bob Stewart is Ready to Catch Monarchs

Monarchs Make the Journey South

A tagged monarch is processed at AFHW

A tagged monarch is processed at AFHW

Tagging

The tag is very small and is placed onto the discal cell of the butterfly so as to not interfere with its center of gravity.

Monarchs stop at the meadow to refuel.

Monarchs stop at the meadow to refuel.

Habitat

Monarchs need fuel to complete their journey. The Allegheny Front Hawk Watch provides a place to rest and refuel.

Netting butterflies get kids involved.

Netting butterflies get kids involved.

Capturing

Butterfly nets provide the safest way of capturing monarchs.

Research

Here is an open Access article on the Effects of the parasite, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, on wing characteristics important for migration in the monarch butterfly.