Nature NB has introduced innovative technology to monitor monarch butterfly migration, eliminating the need to rely on chance sightings of tagged butterflies. The organization collaborated with various partners to deploy Bluetooth-enabled tags, known as BluMorpho tags, for the first time in New Brunswick this season. These solar-powered tags, weighing just 0.066 grams, are attached to the butterfly’s thorax with eyelash glue and feature a small antenna along the abdomen.
Unlike traditional physical wing tags, the BluMorpho tags utilize passive Bluetooth interactions. When individuals with Bluetooth enabled on their phones come within 100 meters of a tagged monarch, data points are automatically logged. This advancement marks a significant shift in monarch conservation efforts in the Maritimes, according to Francie Morgan, the program coordinator at Nature NB.
Jim Wilson, a seasoned birder and naturalist at the Point Lepreau Bird Observatory, highlighted the importance of this technology upgrade. He emphasized how the previous method of relying on numbered wing tags for monarch tracking was laborious and uncertain, whereas the new Bluetooth-enabled system offers real-time tracking capabilities online.
The implementation of this technology builds on a successful pilot project conducted in southern Ontario last year by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada. Nature NB secured funding from the Environmental Trust Fund of New Brunswick and additional tags from the federal government for this initiative. However, delays at the border have hindered the deployment process, with only 22 out of the intended 35 tags expected to be in use by the end of the season.
Despite these challenges, early data from the BluMorpho tags has already provided valuable insights into monarch migration patterns in New Brunswick. Notably, the tags confirmed Point Lepreau as a crucial stopover point for monarchs heading towards Grand Manan. Furthermore, unexpected wind conditions this season redirected some monarchs to Nova Scotia, offering researchers new perspectives on migration behavior.
Tracking individual migration routes with this advanced technology could help identify key natural corridors that monarchs utilize, aiding conservation efforts to protect these vital areas. The Project Monarch app allows anyone to follow the tagged monarchs, with each tag deployed in New Brunswick starting with the prefix PLBO. By the season’s end, Nature NB anticipates tagging 22 monarchs in the province with this cutting-edge technology.