For the 39^th consecutive year, Friends Life Member Don Davis conducted Monarch tagging demonstrations for park guests at the Lighthouse Interpretive Centre during Monarchs and Migrants Weekend. Park staff member Janet, along with Monarch Crusader Carol Pasternak and Monarch Teacher Network of Canada instructor Laurel Merriam, provided support and shared their knowledge of monarch biology and migration with about 280 park guests.

The Monarch population did not increase significantly from the 2^nd lowest number ever counted in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico during winter 2023/2024. As a result, Don was only able to capture 99 monarchs for tagging for this event – the second lowest number tagged at this annual event. While the migration may have been later this year, as has been the trend with warming fall weather, numerous reports suggest monarchs were uncommon throughout the entire province this summer. 

During the fall of 2023, migrating Monarchs passed through severe drought conditions in Texas and northern Mexico. As a result, there have been no recoveries to date from the 384 monarchs released in the park on September 2, 2023, and another 633 monarchs released on September 5, 2023.

Nonetheless, in the spring of 2024, a Monarch with the tag AEZT 854 was found at the El Rosario sanctuary in Mexico which had been released in the park on September 3, 2022 during Monarchs and Migrants Weekend. 

Presqu’ile Provincial Park remains important for monarchs because of the available breeding habitat (milkweeds) and during the fall migration period when nectar sources are abundant.