Citizen Science Salon is a partnership amongst Discover and SciStarter.org.


Each and every fall, declining day duration triggers one particular of the most remarkable phenomena found in nature: the yearly fall migration of monarch butterflies. Across North The usa, monarchs undertake an epic journey — up to three,000 miles — to achieve their overwintering grounds in Mexico and the California coastline. For the jap inhabitants of monarchs, the migratory technology are the terrific-terrific-grandchildren of the monarchs that remaining Mexico the prior spring. 

Their quantities peak during fall migration — at no other time of calendar year is the inhabitants larger sized. Intuition pushes them on as they struggle temperature, hunger, tiredness and human-made obstacles to achieve destinations they’ve by no means been to right before. Still someway, they know the way.

monarch migration pollinator gardens

Monarchs require indigenous, nectar-abundant flowers and milkweed for food stuff together their migratory path, and during breeding. Habitat loss has robbed them of that critical vitality supply. (Credit: Janice in Fennville, MI/Courtesy of Journey North)

Monarchs on the Go

As perilous as migration is, monarchs previously confront an uncertain long term. Around the previous handful of decades, their quantities have plummeted. Due to the fact the nineteen nineties, the jap monarch inhabitants has declined by 80 per cent and the western inhabitants by a staggering ninety nine per cent. Habitat loss is the driving issue. 

Milkweed has been hit really hard. Monarch caterpillars count only on milkweed as a food stuff supply to produce into butterflies. Bad land administration practices and the misperception of milkweed as an unwanted plant species has led to the plant disappearing all through considerably of its indigenous variety. No milkweed, no monarchs.

You can assist help save monarchs by volunteering with Journey North, one particular of the major and longest standing citizen science systems in North The usa. Established in 1995, Journey North performs with the community to monitor migration and seasonal alter even though fostering scientific comprehension, environmental recognition and the land ethic. Below are some methods you can assist.

Share Your Monarch Sightings

Are migratory monarchs acquiring more than enough suitable habitat and assets? Are they currently being observed in their historical variety? Are they leaving previously or afterwards than in the previous? To response these and other inquiries, scientists require as a lot of individuals as doable across North The usa monitoring monarchs. Experienced scientists by itself can’t assemble the amount of details important for complete analyses. Citizen science will help fill information gaps. 

Due to the fact 1995, citizen scientists have been assisting Journey North monitor and far better understand monarch migration. Journey North would make it effortless to report observations, look at maps, share photographs and leave feedback. 

People observations get mapped in real-time as waves of migrations shift across the continent. Your personal monarch observations grow to be locale dots on the maps finish with date, time, actions and far more. 

Taken as a entire, these personal locale dots create massive-scale illustrations of migration styles and enhance our collective comprehension of monarch migration. Any individual can sign up for Journey North. All you require is curiosity and an eagerness to observe the planet close to you.

monarch migration plant

By sharing your observations of monarchs as they vacation together their migratory path, you can assist scientists monitor how the species is undertaking. (Credit: DB in Harwood, ND/Courtesy of Journey North)

Plant a Pollinator Back garden

Monarchs require each and every of us to plant and shield habitat, whether which is in our backyards or community spaces. These “pollinator patches” collectively create habitat corridors that provide critical assets to monarchs, like milkweed and nectar-abundant flowers, during migration and breeding. Developing far more pollinator-pleasant habitat added benefits other wildlife as effectively.

When planting pollinator habitat, select a various array of crops that bloom at distinctive instances. So even if fall migration has previously started, it’s not way too late to plant a pollinator backyard with late blooming nectar-abundant flowers. Indigenous crops do the job very best for pollinator gardens. Do some analysis to come across indigenous crops that improve effectively in your region. Consider removing pesticides or cutting down the amount and employing organic and natural alternate options.

Unfold the Term

Higher recognition is important to saving monarchs. Securing a hopeful long term for monarchs is dependent on a passionate, knowledgeable and engaged community. So take into consideration sharing the question and great importance of monarchs with your loved ones, close friends and elected officials. As individuals study far more about monarchs, they grow to be advocates for a species they arrive to love and understand. 

Take part in Other Journey North Tasks

Monarchs are not the only species on the shift. Hummingbirds, another lively team of pollinators, also head south for the winter. Fueled by the nectar, hummingbirds double their fat as they fly hundreds or even thousands of miles to their overwintering grounds. Share your hummingbird observations with Journey North and examine other tasks you can participate in.


You can come across far more citizen science tasks at SciStarter.org.


Scott Dyke is the Journey North and University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum communications specialist. He hopes to transmit his enthusiasm for the purely natural planet in his do the job and inspire other folks together the way. Even though he enjoys all wildlife, he is notably fond of frogs. Exterior of do the job, Scott enjoys hiking, viewing soccer, and high quality time with loved ones and close friends.