How do you tag a monarch?

With the end of summer (it's Labor Day, after all) comes the time of year when we can tag monarchs. This generation of butterflies doesn't mate. Instead, it migrates. And scientists tag these monarchs to track their movements and how the environment influences their travels.

MonarchWatch is the organization that coordinates the tagging process. Tags have a three-letter, three-number code along with contact information for MonarchWatch. When you catch a monarch, a tag is placed in the center of the lower wing. The tags don't harm the monarch in any way - the glue can't hurt them and the weight of the tag doesn't affect the monarch's ability to fly.

The monarchs can be tricky to catch. Even when they're busy feeding (drinking nectar from flowers) they are aware of their surroundings and fly at the first sign of a perceived threat. On a good day, I can catch them with just my hands, plucking them off of the flowers. But most times, I will be 1/4" from the wings and the butterflies sense the heat of my fingers or something else about me, and zoom - they're gone!

These butterflies will head south, flying about 50 miles a day, heading for the mountains of central Mexico where they'll roost all winter long.

Starting in late January, scientists head to the sanctuaries (protected areas of the forests where the monarchs spend the winter) looking for tagged monarchs. Usually, these are found on the ground, meaning the monarch has died. Using the code number, scientists can determine when and where the monarch was tagged. 

I enjoy tagging monarchs for several reasons. It gives me the opportunity to contribute to scientific research through its role as a citizen science project. By having people across the country tagging monarchs, scientists develop a much larger database than they could develop themselves. Secondly, it's fun! There is a challenge and finesse to capturing monarchs without hurting them or the flowers they're on.

Be on the lookout for the monarchs - you may be lucky enough to see large groups flying overhead or to even spot a tree where they've rested overnight.