Citizen Scientists Mobilize to Track Monarch Migration with New Tech

URGENT UPDATE: Local citizen scientists are set to revolutionize the tracking of migratory monarch butterflies in California using cutting-edge Bluetooth technology. This innovative approach, powered by the new Blu+ tags, allows enthusiasts to contribute to scientific research like never before, enhancing our understanding of these fragile creatures.

As the annual monarch migration begins, Sasha Hernandez, a bug enthusiast and neuroscience student at UC Santa Cruz, is among those ready to engage in this vital effort. With the Project Monarch app now available on iPhone and Android, anyone can help track the butterflies’ movements. The app connects with ultra-light tags that transmit data whenever a tagged butterfly comes within 100 yards of a user’s phone.

The migration of these butterflies is crucial; over the past decades, western monarch populations have shrunk by approximately 95 percent, primarily due to habitat loss and pesticide use. As of mid-December, the Blu+ tags will become active on the West Coast, allowing for real-time data collection on monarch movements.

According to Ashley Fisher from the Xerces Society, “We want to identify what a monarch’s overwintering path looks like.” This effort is critical as the western migration route is fragmented, making it highly susceptible to environmental changes. The data collected through citizen participation will provide insight into the butterflies’ overwintering behaviors and help identify crucial habitats.

The Blu+ tags, developed by Cellular Tracking Technologies and Cape May Point Arts & Science Center, weigh just two-thousandths of an ounce and are powered by mini solar panels. They emit location signals every three seconds, which can be picked up by stationary receivers or smartphones using the Project Monarch app. This groundbreaking technology mirrors techniques previously used in bird migration studies, now adapted for monarchs.

The potential of this initiative is enormous, with nearly 360,000 detections reported in eastern monarch migrations since July 2025. As citizen scientists like Hernandez actively participate, they will help fill essential data gaps, enhancing the conservation efforts for these iconic insects.

From October to January, volunteers will fan out across California’s coastline to count butterflies, with the Xerces Society encouraging the use of the Project Monarch app during these surveys. This integration allows for a richer data collection experience, akin to a treasure hunt for conservationists.

Hernandez expressed her excitement, stating, “It’s incredible that I can maintain a connection with something so small.” The engagement of local communities is vital, especially as monarch populations have dwindled to under a thousand in recent counts.

Fisher emphasizes the importance of community involvement: “People who grew up in areas where they migrate describe huge aggregations that even I’ve probably never seen.” The data collected from the app could illuminate what constitutes a good overwintering site, guiding future restoration efforts.

As this innovative project unfolds, it represents not only a significant leap in conservation technology but also a powerful way for individuals to contribute to the survival of a species that has captivated hearts for generations. Stay tuned as we cover ongoing developments in this exciting initiative to uncover the mysteries of monarch migration.