Monarch Monitoring on The Sacred Earth

A project done in partnership between Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly Madison Audubon), Monarch Larva Monitoring Program, and the Ho-Chunk Nation

We are now set for volunteers for the Summer 2023 program.

Monarch butterflies are a beloved species, but are facing serious declines. Studies show that monarch populations have declined by around 90% in the last 20+ years, due to a variety of reasons but primarily habitat loss.

The Monarch Larva Monitoring Program (MLMP) works with volunteer citizen scientists like you to study how many monarch eggs, caterpillars, and adults are found within a certain area, and uses that data to better understand habitat needs. Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly Madison Audubon) is partnering with MLMP and the Ho-Chunk Nation to recruit volunteers to make weekly visits to the survey site on Ho-Chunk land near Baraboo, Wisconsin (formerly the Badger Ammunition Plant). Special permission is required to enter this land, so this is a unique opportunity to support monarch conservation through partnership with the Ho-Chunk tribe.

To participate, volunteers must:

1. Fill out the form below (full for summer 2023)

2. Complete the trainings

3. Commit to visiting the site approximately once per week for 1-2 hours each visit between June and September

4. Fill out the datasheet and submit data online

Please contact Brenna Marsicek (bmarsicek@swibirds.org or 608-255-2473) with questions. Thank you!

Brenna Marsicek - SoWBA director of communications & Madison-area CBC coordinator
   Email: bmarsicek@swibirds.org
   Phone: 608-255-2473

Banner photo by Arlene Koziol