The Nature NB initiative is part of a joint monarch monitoring blitz that happens every year at this time in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Alysha McGrattan, an education co-ordinator with Nature NB, says New Brunswick is in the northernmost range of where monarchs travel every summer before flying south, so having "eyes on the ground" here is crucial. "So it's very important to know where the milkweed patches are and how they're doing … and one of the problems is we don't have a good understanding of where the milkweed patches are," she said. Milkweed patches grow in the wild, but monarchs also love 'swamp milkweed' flowers, found in gardens. If you prefer the DIY option, Nature NB will provide training at a free webinar at 3 p.m. today, on its Facebook page.

Source: CBC News July 22, 2021 16:30 UTC