Monarch butterflies start journey to Mexico
Annual event at provincial park allows people to help tagged Monarchs on their way
BRIGHTON — Each fall, Monarch butterflies from Canada begin a 4,000-kilometre migration to Mexico. Don Davis and visitors at Presqu'ile Provincial Park tagged and released more than 400 to begin their migration over the Labour Day weekend.
Davis, a graduate of East Northumberland Secondary School, is an expert on Monarch butterflies, and a long-standing member of Monarch Watch. He has been tracking the annual monarch butterfly migration for several years.
"This is the 33rd year we have been tagging and releasing from Presqu'ile, " said Davis. "All the butterflies were netted in the park or at a nearby farmer's field. I usually capture about 100 a day during this time of the year."
Adult monarchs have a wingspan of approximately 9 to 11 centimetres and an average weight of about half a gram, which is about the weight of a paper clip.
"We place a tag that has a unique identifying tracking number that lets researchers in Mexico know where the butterflies were released from. This year I am using the YCE code and I will tag over a 1,000 butterflies, "said Davis.
"Last year, we were overall averaging one in every 250 tagged butterflies from Canada being spotted in Mexico and five that were tagged in Presqu'ile were recovered and recorded."
"For many years it was a mystery where the Monarchs went during the winter and the concept of tracking their movements from Canada began with the Urquarts and the University of Toronto. Together they formed the early Insect Migration Association and their very first meeting was held right here at Presqu'ile to develop this tagging program concept to learn where they went, " added Davis. "Presqu'ile is an outstanding place for projects like this as it is a unique natural environment park."
"Monarchs like milkweeds, wildflowers and clover and flourish where these are plentiful, "said Davis.
"Their numbers fluctuate from year to year. Weather or drought can have an impact on their numbers but over the long term, loss of natural habitat is what threatens their numbers the most like it does with birds and other insects."
When the butterflies arrive in Mexico, they form colonies of about 50 million butterflies per hectare in The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve and remain there for up to five months before starting the spring migration back to the United States and Canada.
In 2008, this reserve was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it covers 56,259 hectares. According to the Monarch Butterfly Fund, in the past, Purepecha Indians who live in this region of Mexico considered monarchs the souls of the dead and interrupted their arrival as the announcement of the visit by the departed, since it coincides with the second day of November, when Mexico celebrates "El Dia de los Muertos" or Day of the Dead.
"I am pleased with the interest in helping to release tagged butterflies, " said Davis.
"I have met so many people from all over Ontario and Quebec today, from the ages of about 3 to 96 years of age and some families who visit the park every year at this time of year and have returned for this two-day annual event, " he added.
For more information about future events at Presqu'ile Provincial Park visit www.friendsofpresquile.on.ca.