Nature NB has introduced a groundbreaking method to track monarch butterflies in New Brunswick this year, eliminating the need for luck in finding tagged insects along their migration route. Deploying Bluetooth-enabled tags called BluMorpho tags, the organization partnered with various groups to enhance monarch conservation efforts in the Maritimes.
The solar-powered BluMorpho tags, weighing only 0.066 grams, are attached to the butterfly’s thorax using eyelash glue and feature a small antenna along the abdomen. Unlike traditional wing tags that require physical recapture, the BluMorpho tags operate through passive Bluetooth interactions. Individuals with Bluetooth enabled on their phones can automatically log data points when within 100 meters of a tagged monarch.
Project coordinator Francie Morgan emphasized the simplicity of tracking by encouraging users to download the Project Monarch app and scan for tagged monarchs to follow their journey. This technology marks a significant shift from the previous method of relying on numbered wing tags and hoping for visual sightings along the migration route.
The initiative, first implemented in southern Ontario last year, received support from the Environmental Trust Fund of New Brunswick and the federal government for additional tags. Despite delays at the border affecting tag deployment, Nature NB plans to release 22 tags by the end of the season, with the potential for 13 more pending clearance.
The early data collected has already provided valuable insights into monarch migration patterns in the province. Notably, the tags confirmed Point Lepreau as a crucial stopover point for monarchs heading towards Grand Manan along the Eastern Seaboard. Unexpected wind conditions this season redirected some monarchs to Nova Scotia, offering researchers new perspectives on migration influences.
Tracking individual migration routes is envisioned to help identify essential natural corridors that monarchs rely on during their journey, aiding in the conservation of these critical areas. By understanding monarch movements over time, conservation efforts can be focused on preserving and enhancing the routes monarchs depend on for sustenance.
The public can engage in monitoring the tagged monarchs by using the free Project Monarch app, with tags starting with the prefix PLBO denoting Point Lepreau Bird Observatory deployments. By season’s end, Nature NB anticipates tagging 22 monarchs in New Brunswick with this innovative technology.