Monarch Watch
{{Short description|Volunteer science organization}}
{{Infobox organization
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| logo = Logo_for_Monarch_Watch.png
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| image = Tagged Monarch Butterfly - Flickr - treegrow.jpg
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| alt = Monarch butterfly with a Monarch Watch tag
| caption = Monarch butterfly with a Monarch Watch tag
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| founder = Orley R. "Chip" Taylor
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| type = Volunteer-based citizen science organization
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| purpose = Tracks the fall migration of the monarch butterfly
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| headquarters = University of Kansas
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| leader_title = Director
| leader_name = Orley R. "Chip" Taylor
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File:Monarch Watch (18383721733).jpg
Monarch Watch is a volunteer-based citizen science organization that tracks the fall migration of the monarch butterfly.{{Cite book|title=Monarch butterfly biology & conservation|date=2004|publisher=Cornell University Press|others=Oberhauser, Karen Suzanne., Solensky, Michelle J.|isbn=978-0801441882|location=Ithaca|oclc=54046294|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/monarchbutterfly00mich}} It is self-described as "a nonprofit education, conservation, and research program based at the University of Kansas that focuses on the monarch butterfly, its habitat, and its spectacular fall migration."{{Cite web|url=https://monarchwatch.org/about/index.htm|title=Monarch Watch : About Us : Introduction|last=jlovett@ku.edu|first=Jim Lovett -|website=monarchwatch.org|access-date=2018-10-07}}
Organization
The informal organization is largely supported by teachers and students participating in "classroom projects, collaborative research" among other opportunities.{{Cite journal|last=Williamson|first=Brad|last2=Taylor|first2=Orley|date=May 1996|title=Monarch migration|journal=The Science Teacher|volume=63|issue=5|pages=26|issn=0036-8555|via=ProQuest}} Its founder and director is Orley R. "Chip" Taylor, a "world-renowned expert on butterflies and their migration patterns."{{Cite news|title=Monarch Watch sets open house|last=Kealing|first=Jonathan|date=Sep 7, 2007|work=McClatchy - Tribune Business News|id={{ProQuest|462300037}}}} The organization creates and distributes tags to place on monarch butterflies in order to track their migration path from Canada and the United States to south-central Mexico.{{Cite journal|last=Holzberg|first=Carol S.|date=Nov 1999|title=Monarch watch|journal=Technology & Learning|volume=20|issue=4|pages=46|issn=1053-6728|via=ProQuest}} The tagging method used is derived from the one that was developed by Canadian scientist, Fred Urquhart. The tagging process was adapted by Orley Taylor to minimize the damage to the butterflies. Color-coded tags are glued to a monarch butterfly's wing. Volunteers have tagged over 1.5 million monarchs in the last 26 years from Colorado to Canada.{{Cite news|url=https://monarchwatch.org/blog/2018/08/03/a-message-to-all-taggers/|title=A Message to all Taggers|date=2018-08-03|work=Monarch Watch|access-date=2018-10-06|language=en-US}}
Monarch Waystation Program
File:Monarch Waystation Sign.jpg
The monarch butterfly is also known as the milkweed butterfly due to its subsistence on the milkweed plant for its habitat. Largely due to commercial farming practices, the habitats of monarch butterflies have declined.{{Cite web|url=https://monarchwatch.org/waystations/|title=Monarch Watch : Monarch Waystation Program|last=jlovett@ku.edu|first=Jim Lovett -|website=monarchwatch.org|access-date=2018-10-07}} In an effort to mitigate the destruction of the monarch butterflies natural habitat, Monarch Watch has called for volunteers to plant milkweed wherever possible. Milkweed is essential to the life-cycle of the monarch butterfly as they lay their eggs on the underside of the plant's leaves.{{Cite journal|last=Spangler|first=Holly|date=Mar 16, 2018|title=Farmers for Monarchs -- and milkweed?|journal=Western Farm Press|issn=1525-1217|via=ProQuest}} It is possible to register and certify a site that is designated as a "Monarch Waystation."{{Cite web|url=https://monarchwatch.org/waystations/certify.html|title=Monarch Watch : Monarch Waystation Program|last=jlovett@ku.edu|first=Jim Lovett -|website=monarchwatch.org|access-date=2018-10-07}} These sites can also be added to an interactive map that is monitored by Monarch Watch. The program also offers free milkweed plugs to people that engage in the creation of habitats for monarchs and pollinators.{{Cite web|url=http://www.monarchwaystationnetwork.res.ku.edu/|title=Monarch Waystation Network|website=Monarch Waystation Network|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-07}} Primary consideration is given to non-profits and schools. There is an application process to receive the milkweed from Monarch Watch.{{Cite news|url=https://biosurvey.ku.edu/application-free-milkweed-nonprofits-and-schools|title=Free Milkweed for Schools and NonProfits Application|date=2016-11-22|work=Kansas Biological Survey|access-date=2018-10-07|language=en}}
Bring Back the Monarchs Campaign
Monarch Watch is not only focused on tracking the fall migration of monarchs, but also on the conservation of the monarch butterfly through the preservation and restoration of monarch habitats.{{Cite web|url=https://monarchwatch.org/about/index.htm|title=Bring Back The Monarchs|website=monarchwatch.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-06}} The destruction of habitats has negatively affected the monarch butterfly population as well as that of other pollinators. Habitat shrinkage has resulted in the extinction of several species of pollinators over the last 50 years. The monarch butterfly is also affected by parasites and the "declining winter habitat in Mexico." Monarch Watch's efforts in this arena are specifically referred to at the "Bring Back the Monarchs Campaign." The Bring Back the Monarchs Campaign is an offshoot of the Monarch Waystation Program.
= Milkweed Market =
Beyond offering free milkweed plugs, Monarch Watch also offers a shop by which an individual can purchase milkweed for the purpose of creating monarch habitats. The milkweed species offered to the buyer is contingent on the buyer's zip code, in an effort to ensure that only native milkweed is planted in the appropriate regional areas.{{Cite web|url=https://monarchwatch.org/milkweed/market/|title=Monarch Watch Milkweed Market|website=monarchwatch.org|access-date=2018-10-07}}