Nature NB has revolutionized monarch butterfly tracking in New Brunswick by introducing Bluetooth-enabled tags for the first time this season. Collaborating with various organizations, including the Saint John Naturalist Club and Environment and Climate Change Canada, the initiative marks a significant advancement in monarch conservation efforts in the Maritimes.
The innovative BluMorpho tags, weighing a mere 0.066 grams and powered by solar energy, are attached to the butterfly’s thorax using eyelash glue. Unlike traditional wing tags, these Bluetooth-enabled tags interact passively, automatically logging data points when within 100 meters of a tagged monarch. This technology eliminates the need for physical recapture to collect data, offering a more efficient and accurate tracking method.
By downloading the Project Monarch app, individuals can easily track the movement of tagged monarchs and gain insights into their migration routes. This new approach replaces the old method of relying on luck for someone to find and report a numbered wing tag along the migration path.
Despite facing delays at the border, Nature NB aims to deploy 22 tags by the end of the season, with the potential for an additional 13 tags if the pending shipment clears customs in time. This cutting-edge tracking technology has already provided valuable information on monarch migration routes in New Brunswick, confirming Point Lepreau as a crucial stopover point before the butterflies continue their journey towards Grand Manan.
Furthermore, unexpected findings, such as monarchs ending up in Nova Scotia due to strong westerly winds, offer researchers fresh insights into the impact of wind conditions on migration decisions. Tracking individual migration routes can help identify key natural corridors that monarchs rely on, aiding conservation efforts to protect these vital areas.
To follow the tagged monarchs, individuals can utilize the free Project Monarch app, with tags in New Brunswick starting with the prefix PLBO from the Point Lepreau Bird Observatory. By the season’s end, Nature NB anticipates tagging 22 monarchs in the province with this cutting-edge technology.