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A monarch butterfly tagged in Northern Kentucky has completed a 1,600-mile migration to a sanctuary in Mexico, marking the first time this has occurred since the Queen City Pollinator Project began tagging monarchs in 2018. Carrie Haubner, co-founder of the Queen City Pollinator Project, tagged the butterfly last fall in Highland Heights, Kentucky. “It was just an incredible experience to feel that some of the work that I’m doing with education and with helping with community science came back with some results,” Haubner said. The tagging process involves gently placing a lightweight sticker on a specific cell of the monarch’s wing to ensure it does not disrupt the butterfly’s flight. “Each tag is lightweight, is a sticker that goes on a specific cell on a monarch’s wing to make sure that it doesn’t disrupt their flight,” Haubner said. While no data is collected during the flight itself, the tags provide insights into monarch migration patterns. “For example, the route that the monarch took, how far they flew, how long it may have taken them to get there,” Haubner said. This data contributes to conservation efforts, as monarch populations have declined by about 80% over the last 20 years and meet the criteria for the endangered species list. “Their population has declined about 80% over the last 20 years, and they meet the criteria for the endangered species list,” Haubner said. The Queen City Pollinator Project is part of a nationwide community science initiative aimed at understanding and protecting monarchs. “One tagged monarch doesn’t give us a lot of info. It’s all of them together. But one tagged monarch has us sitting here talking, which now educates more people in our community about what monarchs need,” Haubner said. For those interested in learning more about monarch migration, the Butterfly Show at the Krohn Conservatory opens Saturday, offering a closer look at these iconic pollinators.
A monarch butterfly tagged in Northern Kentucky has completed a 1,600-mile migration to a sanctuary in Mexico, marking the first time this has occurred since the Queen City Pollinator Project began tagging monarchs in 2018.
Carrie Haubner, co-founder of the Queen City Pollinator Project, tagged the butterfly last fall in Highland Heights, Kentucky.
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“It was just an incredible experience to feel that some of the work that I’m doing with education and with helping with community science came back with some results,” Haubner said.
The tagging process involves gently placing a lightweight sticker on a specific cell of the monarch’s wing to ensure it does not disrupt the butterfly’s flight.
“Each tag is lightweight, is a sticker that goes on a specific cell on a monarch’s wing to make sure that it doesn’t disrupt their flight,” Haubner said.
While no data is collected during the flight itself, the tags provide insights into monarch migration patterns.
“For example, the route that the monarch took, how far they flew, how long it may have taken them to get there,” Haubner said.
This data contributes to conservation efforts, as monarch populations have declined by about 80% over the last 20 years and meet the criteria for the endangered species list.
“Their population has declined about 80% over the last 20 years, and they meet the criteria for the endangered species list,” Haubner said.
The Queen City Pollinator Project is part of a nationwide community science initiative aimed at understanding and protecting monarchs.
“One tagged monarch doesn’t give us a lot of info. It’s all of them together. But one tagged monarch has us sitting here talking, which now educates more people in our community about what monarchs need,” Haubner said.
For those interested in learning more about monarch migration, the Butterfly Show at the Krohn Conservatory opens Saturday, offering a closer look at these iconic pollinators.
