Tagging Migratory Monarchs

Net gains for everyone this past Saturday!  Martin graciously offered to squire us around in his vehicle as my truck couldn’t fit 3 of us and Russ’ vehicle was relatively low to the ground.  Our first stop on 25A, just beyond Wentworth, proved to be THE place where monarchs were fueling up for their migration south. Usually a significantly wet meadow most years, this summer’s dry weather made for dry footwear while slogging through the tall vegetation.  The monarchs preferred nectaring on the Joe-Pye-Weed, leaving the goldenrod alone.  We explored other areas, including two local tree farms where monarchs weren’t as numerous, but yielded beautiful views.  We found several mature caterpillars ready to form their chrysalis.  They'd better hurry!  We tagged a total of 47 monarchs.  All data will be submitted to the University of Kansas and become part of their database for migrating monarchs in North America.   "Nose-jobs" were the order of the day with some very cooperative monarchs.  We enjoyed an end-of-the-day caloric celebration at Moose Scoops in Warren.  Martin and Russ really tied the day together.  It wouldn’t have been even half as fun without you guys!                                                                        

Currently crossing my fingers on the photo upload process.   

“The exceeding beauty of the earth, in her splendour of life, yields a new thought with every petal. The hours when the mind is absorbed by beauty are the only hours when we really live...” 
? Richard Jefferies, The Life Of The Fields

Trade in your hiking poles for butterfly nets for the day and get a close up look at some of the beauty flying through NH.  Get an aerobic workout netting monarch butterflies and releasing them after applying stickers from the University of Kansas’ Monarch Watch program https://monarchwatch.org.  Not to worry, I’ll have extra nets.  This is a great opportunity to learn more about this amazing insect species and contribute to a better understanding of their migratory behavior.  

We’ll meet at Shawnee’s General Store 732 Mt Moosilauke Hwy, Wentworth, NH 03282 at 9:00 a.m. and  carpool from there.   I’ll have been checking out the area  a few days prior to the 10thto see what the best location (s) might be.   I cannot predict what will be the best location at this writing.   We’ll be visiting sites in the Warren and Wentworth areas.    We’ll wrap up around 4:00 p.m.  There’s always ice cream at Moose Scoops in Warren afterwards.  

Please bring water and snack/lunch to get you through the day.