Marin Monarch Working Group
Western monarch butterflies used to be a common sight in Marin. But the number of monarchs in Marin has declined by 99% since the 1980s.
Causes of this decline include climate change, habitat loss, parasites, and pesticide use.
It’s not too late to act…but the time to act is now. Join us to learn how you can help!
Get your hands dirty for a good cause — no green thumb required!
Join the MMWG to help lay the groundwork (literally!) for a future pollinator paradise at the Marin Humane Society! Activities will include pulling pesky Bermuda grass and prepping the ground for solarization. In the fall we will return to plant an array of nectar-rich native plants to create a vibrant pollinator garden. Gloves and other equipment will be provided!
This event will be held on May 5 from 10am to 2pm at the Marin Humane Animal Shelter at 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd in Novato.
To RSVP please contact Audrey Fusco, SPAWN program director, at Audrey@tirn.net
Photo credit: Sarab Seth
Latest news about Marin monarchs…
Loss of habitat and severe weather took a very serious toll on the monarchs overwintering in Marin this year. Very few survived the winter and were able to migrate east this spring. Here are two important things you can do to help support the monarchs locally and nationwide!
Create a monarch habitat with native milkweed and nectar plants in your yard, or work with a group that is creating habitat in agricultural or open spaces.
Comment on the recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposal to list monarch butterflies as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Click below to tell USFWS you support the proposal to increase the protection for this iconic species. The deadline has been extended to May 19! Make your voice heard!
What is a Monarch’s Favorite Nectar Plant?
Xerces scientists are seeking your observations! Please contribute to their Monarch Nectar Data Base. Submissions are quick and easy. When you visit their submission form, you will be asked where you saw the monarch and the name of the plant it was visiting. Xerces is also seeking a photo of the monarch and the plant, but if you don’t have a photo there is also a way to submit an observation. To learn more, read this call to action from Xerces. Click below to submit an observation. Photo credit: Ed Nute
Meta-analysis finds world wide effects of human action on biodiversity in every ecosystem…
A recent analysis of data from over 2,000 studies found significant effects on biodiversity from five drivers of decline: direct exploitation of resources (such as hunting or fishing), climate change, invasive species, and — the two most damaging factors — habitat loss and pollution.
The researchers found that these human pressures shifted where species lived, and decreased the local diversity of species.
Overall, the number of species living in human-impacted sites was almost 20% lower than at sites unaffected by humans.
This research was published in the March 26 issue of Nature Magazine in an article titled “The Global Human Impact on Biodiversity.”
Study shows that 1 in 5 butterflies has disappeared in the last 20 years
In a study published recently in Science, 30 butterfly researchers aggregated and analyzed monitoring data collected by volunteer community scientists across the country — a total of 12.6 million butterfly sightings.
Their findings: Since 2000, the overall number of butterflies in the United States has fallen by 22%. Butterfly abundance dropped in every part of the country, across a wide variety of species. Learn more about the study in this article from NPR.
Photo credit: Will Felch
Who We Are
The Marin Monarch Working Group was established in 2019 to address the existential crisis facing the western monarch, one of California’s most iconic creatures. Our group includes educators and advocates, biologists and botanists, gardeners and monarch lovers.
Public Education
We disseminate science-based information.
Advocacy
We advocate for policies and practices that promote monarch welfare.
Monitoring
We support community science efforts to monitor monarch welfare.
Habitat Restoration
We create and restore monarch habitats in open and public spaces.
Join our mailing list
Those on the mailing list receive an email invitation to attend our monthly MMWG zoom meetings, where we share updates and plan actions to protect the monarch and its habitat.
Please consider making a donation
Your donations will be used to support the advocacy, education, and habitat restoration efforts of our volunteers.
Prefer to donate by check? Make your check out to Turtle Island Restoration Network/MMWG and send it to TIRM, Attn. Audrey Fusco, PO Box 370, Forest Knolls, CA 94933.
MMWG is fiscally sponsored by Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN 91-1818080