The Great Monarch Migration

In mere weeks, a humble insect will begin an incredible journey. The current generation of monarch caterpillars, Danaus plexippus, is preparing to transform and make their annual migration. The butterflies take to the wind as the end of summer draws close, bound for warmer weather in Mexico. Most of the monarchs born in our stretch of the Blue Ridge will depart by mid October, though we may continue to see populations from further north passing through until the first frost. Once in Mexico, hundreds of millions of individuals crowd flowers and hang from trees in enormous roosts- also called bivouacs- while they wait out the winter weather. 

Some of the butterflies in our collection. The three in the bottom left box are monarchs, Danaus plexippus. The middle butterfly is a male, evidenced by the pheromone-producing black spots on the vein of the hind wing called his “pouches.” The top and bottom are females, who tend to have thicker black lines along the hind wing veins and lack these pouches. The box above them holds three commonly confused, but still very cool, Viceroy butterflies- Limenitis archippus. They mimic the coloration of monarchs and are similarly distasteful to predators. Notice the continuous black arc on the hind wing that runs parallel to the wing border present only on viceroy wings.

A female monarch visiting milkweed in our rain garden, likely selecting a suitable plant to host one of her young

When temperatures start to rise and days grow longer in northern Mexico, the monarchs prepare to make their return flight by increasing nectar consumption and beginning to mate. Come March, the butterflies depart- following the spring warmth as it stretches north. On their return flight, the butterflies fly low and stop often to feed and lay eggs. A female monarch may carry more than 300 fertile eggs at a time, and will continue finding new mates as she journeys onward. Mother monarchs are very particular about where they will leave these eggs. While the adult butterflies forage nectar from a variety of flowers, the caterpillars exclusively feed on milkweed species. She carefully examines each milkweed plant she finds and, should it pass her inspection, lays a single egg on the underside of a leaf near the top of the plant. This ensures her caterpillars have plenty of food to grow quickly without competing with others or decimating the plant. 

Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed- a plant that is toxic to many other animals. The monarch stores these toxins in its own body so predators learn not to eat them.

Many of you are aware of the monarch butterfly migration; and we all are familiar with the four stages of their complete metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar, then chrysalis and finally adult butterfly.  However, the way these two life cycles interact may come as a surprise. In our region, D. plexippus experiences 4 generations every year. We have two generations of summer monarchs composed of small, short-lived individuals who will only know this land as home. The successors of the second summer monarchs are significantly larger, stronger, and longer-lived (Up to 9 months as a butterfly!) It is this generation, the fall monarchs, that will make the entire flight to Mexico and return more than halfway back, dispersing their eggs the entire return flight. From these eggs emerge the spring generation, who will complete the migration past the US’s northern border, recolonizing their entire native range.

Poster created by Paul Mirocha for Monarch Watch. This stylized map shows the seasonal ranges of monarch migration over North America. Our fall monarchs fly to Mexico before winter, then fly up into the South East in the spring. The next generation continues moving north, recolonizing the northern half of the continent. Summer generations breed in the north until the rise of the next fall generation, who will make the entire migration south to Mexico and halfway back.

Despite being one of the most extensively studied butterfly species, there are still many mysteries entomologists are working to solve. A community science project called Monarch Watch has volunteer participants help generate data about monarch populations during the fall migration. Unfortunately, the winter roosts in Mexico have been rapidly shrinking in recent decades, sparking much of the research and conservation efforts going on now. Leading theories of causes for this decline include habitat loss and resource scarcity. Much of their historic breeding and feeding lands have been converted to farms, making the butterflies’ journey even more perilous.

Monarch Watch is a community science project that began in 1992. Participants catch and tag fall migrating monarchs with a sticker that has a unique code. Data is recorded including the tag code, date, location, and information about the individual, before it is released. In the winter, butterflies are recaptured in Mexico and searched for tags. The data generated is crucial for estimating monarch population change over time as well as predicting migration times, routes, and survival rates.

Helping monarch populations can be an easy feat for anyone with the lawn space to grow a few native plants. Research some local long-blooming wildflowers, especially those that provide plenty of nectar and bloom through fall. Asters, columbine, vervain, mountain mint, and many others are fairly low maintenance native wildflowers that are great nectar sources for pollinators, including monarchs. Milkweed prefers to have a fair amount of space and well drained soil that gets plenty of water. However, there are several varieties that prefer different conditions, so researching a variety that would do well in your area is a great way to support the monarch population.

At our latitude of around 36° 50’ N, monarch tagging begins at the end of the month- August 29. Peak abundance usually occurs in late September, and the last of this year’s monarchs might be seen into early November. As we look forward to watching another generation of butterflies follow in the wingbeats of their great-grandparents, let these beautiful creatures remind you of the enormous cycles that make up nature.

Help Scientists by Collecting Data with the Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count ‘24

For four days each February, birdwatchers of every skill level can participate in a global event for the love and wellbeing of birds. On at least one of the four days, participants will spend 15 minutes or more identifying birds in a location of their choice. The birds identified will be submitted to an online database, alongside data from hundreds of thousands of other birders all around the world. 

This is a way for anyone with an interest in birds and wildlife to engage with the world around them and learn new things while contributing to a larger collective with the ability to make a positive global impact. 

How to Participate

If being a part of this project sounds like a fun way to get outside this February–great! It’s easy:

1. Where/Who/When

This year's bird count runs from Friday, February 16, through Monday, February 19. Pick what spot you’d like to bird, and who you’d like to go with. Local parks, trails, forests, around the neighborhood, and yes, even your own backyard, are all lovely options. You can bird anywhere, as long as you can legally and safely access the property, of course. 

2. Watch/Listen/Identify

For at least 15 minutes, at least one time over the course of that Friday-Monday, get out there and observe! Sight and sound are the most helpful cues for bird identification. Helpful tools for bird ID include binoculars, field guides, Merlin Bird ID, and a more experienced birder friend. Be sure to keep careful track of each bird species you see, so that data can be collected!

3. Enter Data

The most crucial step - adding to the international database - can be done in any of three ways:

• Enter data through the Merlin Bird ID App

• Enter data through a checklist on the eBird App

• Enter data on eBird through a compute

If you’re already familiar with eBird and/or Merlin, that’s good news, birder! Any lists added to either over the days of the Great Backyard Bird Count will automatically be a part of the count. So, keep up the good work, and make a point to get outside and do some birding the weekend of the count. 

Project Goals

With everyone’s help, we can better understand bird populations. Data on species diversity, population numbers, and location can help ornithologists and land managers to make informed decisions on how to best protect birds and the environment as a whole. 

Project History 

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a partnership between CornellLab, Audubon, and Birds Canada. Originally founded in 1998 by CornellLab and Audubon, the Great Backyard Bird Count is the first ever community science project launched online, with the purpose of collecting data on wild birds and publicly displaying results. Birds Canada became a part of the collaboration in 2009 to expand the scope of the project in Canada (it was limited to the US when created). In 2013, the Great Backyard Bird Count joined with eBird, the world’s largest ongoing biodiversity related community science project, and became global. 

Resources 

Visit the Great Backyard Bird Count website to learn more about the project, see photos and data from past years, and for anything else Great Backyard Bird Count related!  

Visit eBird to expand your bird knowledge and download a list of target potential species for your area, that you can familiarize yourself with ahead of time.

Data from past counts

We are all in this together.

Migratory birds are a lovely reminder that, across oceans and borders, our planet is one whole. The Great Backyard Bird Count is a testament to our force as a collective. It reassures us with proof that individuals who care to engage and participate in the world around them can come together to make a positive global difference. It reminds us to go outside and be in our world. It encourages us to notice and care for the others we share our planet with. And last but not at all least, it gives us that little extra push to go delight in watching a fluffy little bird hopping around. So get out there and look at some birds! 

Excessive Road Salt: AsSALTing Our Streams

Who doesn’t love snow?! It’s fun to play in, pretty to look at, and no day’s better than a snow day. But, when a layer of snow compacts on sidewalks and roads, it can make for some treacherous conditions. Putting down salt on traveling surfaces can help make them safer. When salt dissolves, it lowers the freezing temperature of water. That means the water stays liquid at colder temperatures, and makes ice and snow melt faster without refreezing into a slick sheet of ice, keeping roads and sidewalks safe.

Environmental Impact

But what happens to all that salt when the ice and snow melt away? It gets carried along with that meltwater and ends up in our streams. Freshwater animals and plants can’t survive in high salinity water. Even if average levels remain safe, sudden spikes in salinity are especially harmful to the animals that live in streams. On warm days, lots of snowmelt can carry a load of road salt into streams all at once, resulting in spikes that can reach toxic levels. While some of our fish, including trout, have migrated downstream to larger waterways during the winter, smaller fish including sculpins and daces, as well as sensitive aquatic insects like mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies live in these streams through winter. Furthermore, salt can concentrate in the larger rivers downstream that are fed by several contaminated tributaries.

Infrastructural Impact

In addition to causing environmental damage, road salt also degrades infrastructure. Gritty salt wears away at paved surfaces, and fine or dissolved salt can corrode metal and cement. This includes roads and sidewalks, guard rails, and vehicles themselves. Here in the Blue Ridge mountains, many municipalities source water from rivers or shallow wells. When road salt contaminates these water sources, it can damage filters and corrode pipes.

Taking Action

If road salt is so bad, what can we do about it? Alternatives to road salt are considered in some areas. Sand and gravel can help increase traction on roads, but they don’t actually melt away ice. Plus, with sand and gravel, the sediment left behind can still damage paved surfaces and lead to sedimentation in streams.

Road salt is a powerful tool. When used wisely, damage to ecosystems and infrastructure can be greatly reduced. It only takes 12 oz. (that’s a cup and a half) to effectively treat 20 feet of road. Using more doesn’t make the snow melt significantly faster, but it does contribute to more contaminated runoff. Plowing roads regularly and salting roads less frequently can greatly reduce the amount of salt necessary to make roads safe.

This winter, you can help protect our streams by being more aware of local salt use. Keep an eye out for spilled piles of road salt or uncovered salt stockpiles. These can be reported to VDOT and the DEQ. Pay attention to salting practices, and if you feel your area is oversalting roads, say something! By showing property managers, community leaders, and local government representatives that you care, you can help change winter road treatment practices.

You can also make a huge difference in your neighborhood. If you are able, try to keep up with the snowfall and shovel it from traveling surfaces before it builds up. Read the instructions on road salt bags, and calculate how much salt you actually need to use to treat your driveway and walkways. By using the right amount, you can help protect streams and your wallet. Offer to help neighbors, and talk to them about the importance of reducing salt use. If you have a lot of surface to plow, perhaps consider an electric snow blower- you could share the cost with neighbors!

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More Information: Salt Watch

If you are interested in learning more, the Izaak Walton League of America has a program called Salt Watch. They provide some great resources on their website including articles about the damages and benefits of using road salt and how to responsibly use it; templates for educational yard signs, pamphlets, and letters to public officials; an interactive map showing stream salinity data from the last 6 winters; and links to other resources. You can even sign up to help monitor road salt runoff! They offer free salinity test kits so you can test your local stream, and report your findings to them. This data can help officials make more informed decisions in regions that are highly impacted by saline runoff.

BRDC takes on Burkes Garden!

Red-headed Woodpecker

This past Saturday, BRDC staff and friends set off on an expedition to see the superb bird species of Burke’s Garden in Tazewell, VA. Burke's Garden is a rare valley bowl with a floor that rests at 3,000' while the encircling ridge rises to around 4,000'. It is located in Tazewell County, VA, where the Appalachian Trail skirts its southern rim. The 8.5 mile long and 4-mile wide valley is often referred to as "God's Thumbprint" for its distinctive shape.

Eastern Screech Owl

American Kestrel

Golden Eagle

Belted Kingfisher

The bowl is a beautiful pastoral landscape during the summer but in the winter it is equally impressive. During February it plays host to the rare wintering birds from the far north including the Golden Eagle and Rough-legged Hawk. Once in the valley, we slowly worked our way around the bowl in a large loop by vehicle, searching for birds along the way. During this expedition, we were able to see 35 different bird species. Species observed were: Eastern Meadowlark, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Common Raven, American Crow, Blue Jay, Eastern Phoebe, American Kestrel, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Screech-Owl, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Golden Eagle, Black Vulture, Great Blue Heron, Wilson’s Snipe, Mourning Dove, Rock Pigeon, American Black Duck, and Mallard. Seeing the Golden Eagles, the Red-headed Woodpecker, and the vast amount of Red-tailed hawks, 36, truly made this years trip special. This is one of our annual trips, so if you are interested in seeing any of these magnificent birds, we will continue to host this amazing expedition for the years to come.

Wilson’s Snipe

February Events

If you’re willing to brave the cold and exercise a little patience, winter bird-watching can be a rewarding experience. Birds don’t hibernate and with a pretty high metabolism, they remain active even in the coldest time of the year.

Some birds stay around all year, some travel great distances south (insect eaters for example), and some travel just a little ways south to escape the bitter cold and lack of food. Raptors and waterfowl are species that find their way to Burkes Garden.

Join us February 5th as we migrate over to Virginia’s highest valley in seek of over wintering raptors such as Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Harriers, Owls, and more!

If you can’t make it on the 5th, stop by the Center on February 19th for the Great Backyard Bird Count. We have the feeders full and ready to participate in this citizen science activity. Join us! Click event titles for more information.

Burke’s Garden Birding Trip
February 5th, 9:00-4:00

Great Backyard Bird Count
February 19th, 10:00-2:00

Upcoming Events

Fall is quickly approaching bringing cooler weather, beautiful foliage, and outdoor activities! With darkness getting earlier, we are entering the prime season for stargazing. As trees and shrubs lose their foliage, fewer visual obstructions affect birdwatching, and the trails await new discoveries! There’s something for everyone over the coming months. Join us! Click event titles for more information.

Get Outside Hikes
Saturdays, now through October 30th
All ages!

Planting Day
Friday, October 1st, 9-4

Volunteer Weekend
Saturday, October 23rd - 24th , 10-4

New River Christmas Bird Count (hosted by BRDC)
Saturday, December 18th, 9:00-5:00

Burke’s Garden Birding Trip
February 5th, 8:00-5:00
All ages!

Great Backyard Bird Count
February 12th, 10:00-2:00
All ages!

Upcoming Events

As the temperatures cool down, Blue Ridge Discovery Center isn’t slowing down! With darkness settling in sooner in the evenings, we are entering the prime season for stargazing. And with trees and shrubs losing their foliage, the winter months allow for fewer visual obstructions during birdwatching, including sighting rare wintering birds from the far north. There’s something for everyone over the coming months. Join us! Click event titles for more information.

Exploring Astronomy
Friday, November 20th, 5:30-7:30
All ages!

Seedling Scientist
Saturday, November 21st, 2:00-3:30
Ages 3-5

New River Christmas Bird Count (hosted by BRDC)
Saturday, December 19th, 9:00-5:00

Mt. Rogers Christmas Bird Count (hosted by Allen Boynton)
Sunday, December 20th, 9:00-5:00

Burke’s Garden Birding Trip
February 6th, 8:00-5:00
All ages!

Great Backyard Bird Count
February 13th, 10:00-2:00
All ages!

Butterflies and Community Science

Butterflies are one of the most beautiful elements of the natural world, and scientists now recognize that they can also serve as one important indicator of the health of ecosystems. A dedicated group of naturalists and staff at BRDC gathered together Sunday, September 15th to enjoy their beauty and contribute to a nationwide community science program that conducts long-term monitoring of butterfly populations.

The North American Butterfly Association Count has been held since 1975. BRDC has selected a count area of 15 miles in diameter centered around our Center and Field Station. The staff and volunteers conducted a full day census of all butterflies observed within that circle. We intend this count to provide results useful for scientific monitoring and to track the species/host plants within various assets surrounding our Center.

It is our hope to perform this count three times a year going forward; Spring, Summer and Fall. This recent count, our Fall count, produced 35 different species of butterflies; a great number of species for this late in the season. I am sure 80 degrees and sunshine contributed to the large showing. We also noted nearly 50 monarch caterpillars in a small area of Whitetop Mountain full of milkweed! We hope to add more community participation in the coming butterfly season. Please enjoy some of the photos and our species list below:

Painted lady
Common buckeye
Red spotted admiral
Monarch
Common wood nymph
Viceroy
Northern crescent
Silver spotted skipper
Sachem
Least skipper
Clouded skipper
Peck’s skipper
Tawny edged skipper
Horace’s duskywing
Zabulon skipper
Wild indigo duskywing
Fiery skipper

Eastern tiger swallowtail
Pipevine swallowtail
Spicebush swallowtail
Black swallowtail
Cabbage white
Clouded sulphur
Orange sulphur
Sleepy orange
Cloudless sulphur
Eastern tailed blue
American copper
Variegated fritillary
Great spangled fritillary
Aphrodite fritillary
Meadow fritillary
Pearl crescent
Silvery checkerspot
Red admiral

Galax Middle Visits Grandfather Mountain

On May 6th, students from Galax Middle School took a trip up 5,946’ to the top of Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. There they had the opportunity to learn about the various flora and fauna that inhabit the mountains’ 16 distinct ecosystems.

The students took a tour through the Nature Museum and learned about the natural history of the mountain, then had the opportunity to conduct their own field research with education specialist and naturalist, Amy Renfranz. Renfranz helped the students each set up their own 10x10 meter plot where they observed soil quality, species diversity and practiced their naturalist skills.

During their trip to the mountain, the students discovered many different kinds of plants and animals; including pinkshell azalea, bear corn, and red-backed and gray cheeked salamanders! The students finished their trip to Grandfather Mountain by visiting the resident bald eagles and bears.

Bird Feeders and Community Science

Blue Ridge Discovery Center's Natural Heritage Program brings bird feeders and community science to Grayson County Public Schools for the month of November. 

All fifth-grade classes in the GCPS system built bird feeders for their respective schools. Students were shown flash cards of potential bird species that might visit feeders in our area. This exercise gave them familiarity with our local winter (and some year-round) birds. The importance of proper seed choices and nutrient needs were also discussed.

Following this, students worked in groups to construct three different types of feeders that birds would be attracted to. The first was a platform feeder. This could be mounted on a post or hung from a tree or hook. The second was a suet feeder that would hold a cake of suet mixed with fruit and nuts. And lastly, a sock feeder that held thistle seeds. The students were instructed on proper placement of these feeders to both attract birds and provide them with safety and security.

At the completion of feeder building, we discussed how the students could participate in community science by signing up on the eBird website and recording data there. Each class can go online after observing their feeder for designated amounts of time and document the species and numbers of birds seen. This enhances the data collection process in a hands-on fashion that is both fun and informative.