A monarch butterfly’s tracking process traditionally depended on chance encounters along its migration route to spot a tiny sticker on its wing and report it. This year, Nature NB revolutionizes monarch tracking in New Brunswick by introducing Bluetooth-enabled tags, eliminating the need for luck. Collaborating with the Saint John Naturalist Club, Point Lepreau Bird Observatory, and Environment and Climate Change Canada, the organization deployed solar-powered BluMorpho tags weighing a mere 0.066 grams on monarchs for the first time.
Unlike conventional wing tags requiring physical recapture for data collection, BluMorpho tags operate through passive Bluetooth interactions. When individuals with Bluetooth-enabled phones come within 100 meters of a tagged monarch, data points are automatically logged. Francie Morgan, Nature NB’s program coordinator, described this advancement as a groundbreaking development in monarch conservation within the Maritimes.
The transition to this new technology marks a significant shift, as Jim Wilson, a seasoned birder and naturalist from the Point Lepreau Bird Observatory, highlighted. The traditional method involved placing numbered wing tags and relying on sightings for tracking, whereas the BluMorpho tags provide real-time online tracking capabilities.
Last year, this technology was first utilized on monarchs in Canada through a partnership between Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada in southern Ontario. Nature NB secured funding after a successful pilot, supported by the Environmental Trust Fund of New Brunswick and additional tags from the federal government. Delays at the border affected the tag deployment target, with half of the tags currently held up. The organization plans to deploy 22 tags by season’s end, with potential for 13 more if the delayed shipment clears customs in time.
Initial data has already revealed fresh insights into monarch migration patterns in the province. The Point Lepreau location has been confirmed as a critical stopover point for monarchs before their journey towards Grand Manan along the Eastern Seaboard. The new technology also uncovered unexpected migration deviations due to strong westerly winds, with tagged monarchs ending up in Nova Scotia instead of continuing south. This offers valuable data on how wind conditions influence migration decisions.
Tracking individual migration routes can aid in identifying key natural corridors crucial for monarchs, such as mountain ranges, river valleys, and coastlines. Understanding these routes can help prioritize conservation efforts in preserving and enhancing these critical habitats for the butterflies. To follow the tagged monarchs, the Project Monarch app can be downloaded for free. Monarchs tagged in New Brunswick will bear the prefix PLBO, representing the Point Lepreau Bird Observatory. Nature NB anticipates tagging 22 monarchs with this innovative technology by the season’s end.
