MAQUOKETA, Iowa — Get ready to spot some butterflies!
Every summer, for 10 days between July and August, people across Canada, Mexico and the United States are encouraged to head outside and count monarch butterflies, milkweed plants and monarch eggs, caterpillars and chrysalises. Findings from this "Monarch Blitz" can then be shared with a participating community science program.
In 2023, the Monarch Blitz collected close to 4,000 observations across North America. That data is all made available for anyone to download via the Trinational Monarch Knowledge Network. This helps identify priority conservation areas.
2024's Monarch Blitz is taking place from July 26 through Aug. 4.
The effort is the only coordinated North America-wide effort to track monarch and milkweed summer distribution. Every year, it helps build out a better, long-term picture of the butterfly's breeding, migration and population trends.
It's all more important than ever, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which says the latest eastern migratory monarch population was at the second-lowest level ever observed in Mexico. The butterflies only covered a 0.90-hectare section of the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas.
Closer to our area, the Jackson County Conservation will host its Monarch Blitz event at the Hurstville Interpretive Center, about one mile north of Maquoketa on Highway 61. This free event will run from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4.
The public is invited to drop by the center for materials and directions, before heading out for a self-guided prairie hike.
All ages may participate, but at least one adult per group is recommended. No registration is required.
For more information, you may contact the Jackson County Conservation at (563) 652-3783 or by emailing conservation@jacksoncounty.iowa.gov.
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