Fall is coming, and so are the monarch butterflies. Two upcoming Lawrence events will provide hands-on opportunities to learn about monarchs and contribute to their conservation efforts.
Monarch Watch’s fall open house celebrates the arrival of monarchs during their annual migration from Canada to Mexico. The mostly outdoor event is free and geared toward citizen scientists of all ages.
Garden tours, games, tagging demonstrations, monarchs, caterpillars and more are on tap, according to the Monarch Watch website.
“At the Open House you can learn about creating Monarch Waystations and see the magnificent butterfly and pollinator garden created and maintained by the Douglas County Master Gardeners,” an online announcement read. “Weather permitting, you will see an abundance of butterflies and numerous other small but important pollinators. On a good day over 20 species of butterflies visit the garden. Bring your cameras. It is well worth a visit.”
Fall open house takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 at Foley Hall, 2021 Constant Ave., on West Campus at the University of Kansas.
One week later, Monarch Watch will host its annual tagging event, which is co-sponsored by the Lawrence Bird Alliance and the Baker Wetlands Discovery Center.
Participants will gently net a butterfly and place a tiny sticker on the monarch’s wing. They will also record a few simple details to help Monarch Watch track the butterflies as they head south.
No experience is necessary, and the all-ages event is free.
Participants are encouraged to bring a net, if they have one. Hosts will provide tags, nets and instructions on how to net and tag monarch butterflies.
“The monarchs are usually roosting or clustering (sometimes in spectacular concentrations!) until around 8:30AM,” an online announcement read. “As it warms up, they begin foraging on the flowers.”
The tagging event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Baker Wetlands Discovery Center, 1365 North 1250 Road.
Monarch Watch’s fall events typically attract more than 500 participants from the Lawrence, Topeka and Kansas City area, said research assistant Jim Lovett via email. Visit the Monarch Watch’s website at this link for more information about these and other upcoming events.
Monarch Watch was launched in 1992 by Orley “Chip” Taylor and Brad Williamson. Based at KU, the nonprofit organization tracks the monarch butterfly’s migration while supporting restoration of milkweed for monarch caterpillars and nectar sources for pollinators.
The organization is also hosting its annual “Chip in for Monarch Watch” fundraiser through September. Click here for more information or to donate.
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Tricia Masenthin (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at tmasenthin (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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