A new technology is revolutionizing the tracking of monarch butterflies in New Brunswick this year, eliminating the need for luck in spotting tagged insects along their migration route. Nature NB, in collaboration with various organizations, has introduced Bluetooth-enabled tags called BluMorpho tags on monarchs for the first time in the region.
These solar-powered tags, weighing a mere 0.066 grams, are attached to the butterfly’s thorax with a small antenna along the abdomen using eyelash glue. Unlike traditional wing tags, the BluMorpho tags operate through passive Bluetooth interactions. Anyone with Bluetooth enabled on their phone within 100 meters of a tagged monarch will automatically log a data point.
Through the Project Monarch app, individuals can scan for these tags and track the journey of the monarchs. This technology marks a significant shift from the old method of relying on physical recapture of numbered wing tags for data collection.
Last year, this technology was first utilized on monarchs in Canada through a partnership between Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada in southern Ontario. Nature NB secured funding after a successful pilot, receiving support from the Environmental Trust Fund of New Brunswick and additional tags from the federal government.
Despite some delays at the border, Nature NB plans to deploy 22 tags by the end of the season, with the potential for 13 more if the remaining shipment clears customs in time. The early data from these tags has already provided valuable insights into monarch migration routes through the province.
Strong westerly winds this season led to three tagged monarchs unexpectedly ending up in Nova Scotia instead of continuing south, offering researchers new information on how wind conditions influence migration decisions. Tracking individual migration routes could help identify key natural corridors monarchs rely on most, aiding conservation efforts to protect these crucial areas.
To follow the tagged monarchs, individuals can download the Project Monarch app. Tags deployed in New Brunswick are identifiable by the prefix PLBO, representing Point Lepreau Bird Observatory. Nature NB anticipates tagging 22 monarchs in the province by the end of the season.