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.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Early Season Update


Monarchs have been seen in fair numbers during the season's first ten days, getting nectar on joe-pye, sedum, Mexican sunflower and other nectar sources. Mexican sunflower is providing the monarch meal in this photo. Along with bees, monarchs are important pollinators. Recent winds have been from the southwest. Northwest winds will typically blow monarchs to the Cape May Point, and as the days become cooler, we anticipate larger numbers. A small cold front arrived this afternoon with a few hours of northwest winds, so perhaps numbers will be higher tomorrow.

Post written by 2016 Field Naturalist Intern Diane Tassey.

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