Nature NB has introduced a groundbreaking method to track monarch butterflies in New Brunswick this season. In collaboration with the Saint John Naturalist Club, Point Lepreau Bird Observatory, and Environment and Climate Change Canada, the organization has deployed Bluetooth-enabled tags on monarchs for the first time in the region.
The innovative tags, known as BluMorpho tags, are solar-powered and weigh just 0.066 grams, a fraction of the monarchs’ body weight. Unlike traditional wing tags, these tags utilize passive Bluetooth technology. When individuals with Bluetooth enabled on their phones come within 100 meters of a tagged monarch, the data is automatically recorded.
This advancement marks a significant shift in monarch conservation efforts, providing real-time tracking capabilities. Jim Wilson, a seasoned birder and naturalist, highlighted the importance of this new approach, emphasizing the enhanced ability to monitor and follow the monarchs’ journey.
The technology was initially implemented last year in Canada through a partnership between Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada. Nature NB secured funding from the Environmental Trust Fund of New Brunswick and the federal government to deploy these tags. Despite encountering delays at the border, the organization aims to tag 22 monarchs by the end of the season, with the potential for more if pending shipments are cleared in time.
The early data gathered from the tagged monarchs has already yielded valuable insights into migration patterns. Notably, it confirmed Point Lepreau as a crucial stopover point for monarchs before they continue their journey down the Eastern Seaboard. Additionally, unexpected findings, such as monarchs ending up in Nova Scotia due to westerly winds, have provided researchers with new information on migration dynamics.
By tracking individual migration routes, experts hope to identify key natural corridors that monarchs rely on, enabling targeted conservation efforts to protect these vital areas. The Project Monarch app allows anyone to follow the tagged monarchs, with tags in New Brunswick bearing the prefix PLBO from the Point Lepreau Bird Observatory. Nature NB anticipates tagging a total of 22 monarchs in the province by the end of the season.
