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, October 3, 2014

A Cold Front on the Way...

With a cold front on the way, tomorrow could be a good monarch day.  The forecast is predicting west winds, which generally help bring migrating birds, dragonflies, and monarchs to Cape May.  We will have to wait and see, but this weekend could bring the next big push of monarchs.  We will keep you posted both here on the blog and on our Facebook page with any monarch updates.



Today, the sixth grade class from Souderton Charter School attended our demo at Cape May Point State Park.  This was a wonderful group of kids who already knew so much about monarch ecology as well as the history of the Monarch Monitoring Project itself.  They were a delightful and attentive audience and we were so happy to share part of the day with them.

The sixth grade class from Souderton Charter School

Out team had the chance to catch up on some deadheading of butterfly bushes this afternoon.  This encourages the bush to keep blooming into the fall, which provides a great nectar source to the monarchs who stop in Cape May.  In the picture below there is a praying mantis perched on a dead bloom.  

Can you spot the well camouflaged praying mantis?

Since praying mantises do eat monarchs, our team removed this one from the bush, and relocated it across the street.

The Monarch Monitoring Project will be holding demos on both Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 4 and 5th) under the East Shelter at Cape May Point State Park.  If you are in the area we would love to have you stop by.


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