|
|
Project Monarch
Download this informational flier pdf
or png
What is Project Monarch?
|
After years of anticipation, it's finally here
For years we'rve dreamed of a tiny
radio transmitter that was light enough to put on a monarch to follow it to the overwintering sites. The largest
obstacle was always weight! Monarchs in our region weigh at most around 0.50 grams. Any
transmitter was just too heavy, but continuing progress has enabled Cellular Tracking Technologies to
create a tiny solar powered Bluetooth transmitter
for monarch butterflies. Cape May Point Science Center created an app so your smart phone can now track these
radio-tagged monarchs up to about ¼ mile away.
|
|
|
|
How can you participate?
|
|
Beginning on October 1, 2025, the Southwest Monarch Study will resume field testing the new BlüMorpho
radio tags developed by Cellular Tracking Technologies on several monarch butterflies in the greater Phoenix
area as well as in other Arizona locations. But we need YOUR HELP to track them! This year, new receivers
have been added to Motus towers around the Southwest as well as special nodes
to pick up their signals.
|
|
|
Beyond the range of the towers, though, the only way to track radio tagged monarchs to test this new technology and its
viability will be with your cell phone. Can you help? Download the free PROJECT MONARCH APP today!
The BlüMorpho radio tags are expensive as most new technology
items are. Each individual tag costs $175.00
so we are being selective regarding the monarchs we choose to carry
the tags to their overwintering site.
The only monarchs that will be tagged are those that pass their physical with excellent wing condition and a
weight meeting our requirements.
|
|
Scan or click to download for Android
|
|
|
We hope you will join us and download the PROJECT MONARCH APP on your smart
phone. Turn it on to scan for monarchs when you are outside working in your
yard or hiking, birding, anything in natural areas especially if you see monarchs. When
you hear the ping of a radio-tagged monarch, be sure to upload the sighting
so we can track monarchs through Arizona this fall through spring.
|
|
Scan or click to download for iPhone
|
|
Suppport
Our test of the new BlüMorpho tags is made possible by donations to the Southwest Monarch Study, a
nonprofit organization, and the Xerces Society. The Desert Botanical Garden provides additional funding from a grant they
received through the Arizona Lottery. Your donation to the Southwest Monarch Study will help us to continue testing and
improving this leading edge technology to track monarch butterflies. Your data will enable us to improve habitats
for their population expansion. Click HERE to go to our Support us page.
|
