The Monarch Monitoring Project is a long-term study on monarch migration through Cape May, NJ. It is a part of the New Jersey Audubon Research Department, and closely affiliated with the Cape May Bird Observatory.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Monarchists Repeat as Carbon Footprint Champions

The team receives the Carbon Footprint Award from NJ Audubon President Eric Stiles.
left to right: Stiles and Monarchists Paige, Lu, Mark, Linda, Louise, Michael, Meg, Ron, and Kashi.

We are proud to announce that the Monarchists team won the Carbon Footprint Award for the second consecutive year at the World Series of Birding.  We found 141 species of birds and 9 species of butterflies on the day of competition, traveling just by foot and bicycle.

We started at midnight a listened for birds throughout the night.

As usual, Ron Rollet coordinated a number of yummy meal breaks.

The purpose of the World Series of Birding is to raise money for various conservation causes through a day of friendly competition.  The Monarchists' effort is now the primary source of funding for the Cape May Monarch Monitoring Project.  Read all about the team's effort and learn how you too can offer support by visiting this website: http://www.mgnature.com/WSB/2014Results.html.


An ice water foot bath in mid-afternoon
provided refreshment for the team.
As night fell the team was still birding.
We had fun telling stories of the day at the Awards Ceremony.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Please Support the Monarchists!


In just a few hours, at midnight, The World Series of Birding will begin.  Throughout May 10, 2014, teams will search for birds in a friendly competition, with each team raising funds to support a conservation cause.


The Monarchist birders and support staff, l to r:
Kashi Davis, Meg Hedeen, Michael O'Brien, Louise Zemaitis, Lu Daniels,
Ron Rollet, Mark Garland, Paige Cunningham.


Once again the Monarchist team will compete, raising funds to support the Cape May Monarch Monitoring Project.  We compete in the most environmentally friendly category, hoping to win the "Carbon Footprint" award by traveling only by foot and bicycle all day.  A few days after the event (once we have rested and recovered), we will post the results of our efforts.

Here's a great opportunity to support the research and education work of the Monarch Monitoring Project.  Find out how you can lend support at this webpage: http://mgnature.com/WSB/2014.html.

Listening for birds before dawn.

Cycling to the next birding spot at sunrise.
You contributions support our efforts to
protect migratory monarch butterflies.


Birding at the neighborhoods of Cape May Point.
We'll be out there again on May 10; wave if you see us!