Monarch Watch is welcoming the community to its upcoming open house, followed by the annual tagging event where folks can learn about tracking the butterflies’ migration.
The fall open house celebrates the arrival of monarchs coming from the north. On a good day, more than 20 species of butterflies visit the garden, according to the organization’s event page.
“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,” according to the event page. “Weather permitting, you will see an abundance of butterflies and numerous other small but important pollinators.”
The open house is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 at Monarch Watch, 2021 Constant Ave. on KU’s west campus.
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“This will be primarily an outdoor event and there will be tours of our gardens, games, activities, tagging demonstrations, monarch butterflies, caterpillars, and more!” according to the page.
At the tagging event the following week, Monarch Watch’s experts will instruct people on how to catch monarchs with nets, gently tag them and let them go.
The data collected helps scientists understand the dynamics of the monarchs’ migration. Read more about how it works at this link.
The tagging event is set for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Baker Wetlands Discovery Center, 1365 North 1250 Road. Bring a net if you have one, though nets will be provided.
“The monarchs are usually roosting or clustering (sometimes in spectacular concentrations!) until around 8:30am,” according to the event page. “As it warms up, they begin foraging on the flowers.”
Both events are free and open to the community.
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