Monarch Tagging Station
Monarchs are sexed, weighed, and assessed before placing a tag on them.
Monarch Monitoring
Jeanine Ging (center above) 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.
Monarch Telemetry
The Allegheny Plateau Audubon Society is partnering with Cellular Tracking Technologies (Mike Lanzone’s company) to place tracking devices on Monarch Butterflies. The 60 mg devices weigh less than a grain of rice and work with the Motus system. As of now, we will have seven trackers for the fall 2024 season. If you would like to sponsor a tracker, please contact us!
Bob Stewart is Ready to Catch Monarchs
Monarchs Make the Journey South
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.
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.
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.