Monarch butterfly-lovers can provide more data to help our monarchs
Our tagging programme was established to determine any migration patterns within the NZ monarch population. The data analysed in 2021 indicated there was no pattern of migration or any common destination, and the project ceased. Most recoveries were made within the general area in which they were released.
History
Tagging of monarchs in NZ began soon after the formation of the Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust in 2005-06. From 2007 widespread tagging took place for thirteen years. Anecdotal records, plus the tagging data, indicated that most monarchs overwintered in the area around where they eclosed.
Overwintering
Reports of overwintering sites around NZ are at present sketchy. Dr Stephen Pawson and Dr Lisa Berndt researched monarchs overwintering in Christchurch in the early 2000's. You can see their report here. The information was utilised by the Christchurch City Council to create a map showing major overwintering locations but since the earthquake in 2011 many of these overwintering locations have changed.
2025
Tagging starts again in February 2025, and will probably run until May each year when it will be assumed that monarchs are overwintering all over the country.
We also hope to clearly identify more overwintering sites and encourage volunteers living in the vicinity to monitor the overwintering populations. It is assumed that these overwintering populations are in reproductive diapause. If so, a methodology could be put in place to enable population counts to be undertaken, observations made of flight patterns on warm, sunny winter days and any evidence of mating behaviour. This could be backed up with monitoring of swan plants for evidence of eggs and establishing whether they are fertile.
How tagging works
Each tag has a discrete “code number” prefixed by two or three letters which related to a particular year (e.g. T series = 2020) The tags link to a short form of our website, www.mb.org.nz.
When participants order tags, their address details are recorded in the tagging database online. Several hours after butterflies eclose (or emerge from the chrysalis) and when they are ready to fly, a tag is very gently attached to their hindwing. See the video here.
Then when the tagged butterfly is released, other information such as the weather, time of day etc is recorded by the tagger on our website.
When a tagged butterfly is recovered, the person goes to www.mb.org.nz and enters the code from the tag along with the postal location of where it was recovered, a description of the site and other information as to weather etc. After they have finished entering the data, details regarding the journey of the butterfly is sent to the tagger and the reporter and is also recorded in a database which is available for scientists and schools etc to use later.
To Join the Tagging Programme
Please register and request tags here (link to come).
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