Afer measuring, recording data and tagging, came my favorite part: release. For just a moment, this monarch rested on an open palm before taking flight. Where will those wings take it? It’s incredible to imagine that a butterfly leaving Wisconsin could be beginning an epic journey all the way to Mexico…
What happens after you catch a monarch? Citizen science! We measured, determined the sex, then carefully placed a numbered Monarch Watch tag on the discal cell of its wing. If a tagged butterfly is recovered somewhere along its migration, researchers can learn a little more about its remarkable journey. Next step? Release!
Butterfly net in hand, I joined a group at Havenwoods State Forest to learn about monarch tagging and migration. First rule: don’t chase a butterfly in flight. Wait until it’s nectaring, approach carefully, and pause. When a monarch landed on a blazing star spire, I gave it a try…one quick scoop & swoop, and success!
Walking through a prairie examining milkweed plants for butterfly eggs, I learned about the monarch’s life cycle, what to look for on the leaves, and how citizen science observations contribute to a bigger picture. Now, when I see monarchs fluttering in my own neighborhood pollinator garden, I wonder…could one of those butterflies be preparing for … More Milkweed & Monarchs
Yesterday, I would have walked right past it. Today, I went looking for future butterflies! I joined the Urban Ecology Center’s monitoring project, whre I learned how to search milkweed leaves for monarch eggs. Look close…a tiny white dot becomes a future butterfly, and suddenly an ordinary milkweed leaf holds the beginning of an extraordinary … More Future Butterfly
Giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands! 97% of the land that make up this archipelago off the Western coast of Ecuador is protected as part of the national park system to protect the unique wildlife species living there.
Ice baths, swimming in glacier-fed lakes, or cold showers, are just a few chilly options for tapping into optimal health. Earlier this month, I spent a week in Northern Spain learning the Wim Hof Method (combining breathing, cold therapy, and mindfulness, to connect more deeply with your body and boost immunity). That’s me in the … More Ice Bath Immune Boost
Sea turtles have always been thought to be loners. Turns out, these ocean reptiles may not be total party animals, but they do like to check each other out sometimes. Marine biologist Nathan Robinson studies juvenile green sea turtles in The Bahamas. He designed and built a camera that fits on a sea turtle’s shell. … More Sea Turtle ‘Dash Cam’
Wrangling reptiles, sea creatures that swim, in the name of science, grab your mask, snorkel, fins. Turtle Rodeo is the research technique, an ocean adventure not for the meek. Sea turtles spend 99% of their life in the water, which means researchers need to go to the turtle’s turf to study them. Scientists hand capture the … More Susie’s Excellent Island Adventure
I’ll be returning to the Bahamas later this week to work with marine scientists tracking juvenile green sea turtle habitat. Here, I recount my June, 2018 experience. Come along for this wild ride! My expedition as an eco-volunteer with Earthwatch, the global conservation organization, begins on the hot tarmac at Rock Sound airport in Eleuthera, … More Turtle Rodeo
Susan Hunnicutt 