International Monarch Monitoring Blitz 2024
The International Monarch Monitoring Blitz is taking place this year from July 26-August 4, 2024. This is an annual event held across North America and is coordinated by a variety of partners across the continent. In Eastern Canada, this BioBlitz is coordinated by the Insectarium at Space for Life in Montreal through the project Mission Monarch.
During this survey period, community organizations and individuals alike are encouraged to look for Monarchs and Milkweed in their communities and backyards, and to report on their findings to Mission Monarch. Eggs, caterpillars, chrysalides, and adult butterflies can all be counted during this survey, along with various Milkweed species, including the two species native to New Brunswick: Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).

NEW: LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2024 MONITORING BLITZ ON CBC’S INFORMATION MORNING
How to Survey for Monarchs and Milkweed
There are a few different pieces of information that you will need to record in the field when you conduct a survey. You can download a worksheet from Mission Monarch, or record the following details in a notebook to be recorded online later. If you are participating as part of a group survey, only one person needs to upload survey data that pulls together everyone’s sightings.
- Where: The address and/or location name where the survey took place (i.e. 123 Main St. OR Main Street Park). The online submission form also has a map where you can drop a pin on the precise survey location.
- When: Date of the survey, as well as start time AND end time.
- What: The specifics of your observations. The number of participants, the size of the location (a garden, a basketball court, a football field, or larger), the number of stems counted in each species, the number of eggs and caterpillars on those species, and an overall number of chrysalides and adult butterflies. There are also places in this section of the form to upload photos and leave additional comments.
After filling out the full online form, you will get a final chance to review your submission before confirming the report and sending it to Mission Monarch. We also encourage you to add your findings to iNaturalist, where Nature NB has an ongoing, multi-year project to track Monarchs and Milkweed plants across the province.
BioBlitz Dates and Locations
Want to join a group survey in your area to learn from Nature NB staff and get outside with other nature lovers? Check the list below for counts happening near you, and check back often as there are still dates to be added!
- Cap-Pelé: August 7, 9:30-10:30am. Location: Cormier Village Ecopark, 645 Route 945 (in partnership with Vision H2O)
- Cocagne Region (in partnership with the Cocagne Sustainable Development Group):
- July 29, 10am. Location: Cocagne Community Garden, 1789 Route 530
- July 31, 10am. Location: Grande-Digue School, 365 Route 530
- Fredericton:
- July 29, 6:30-8pm. Location: Sunset U-Pick, meeting at 49 Ferris Street.
- July 31, 6:30pm. Location: Park at Devon Lumber, 200 Gibson Street, and walk on the Northside Trail to the Milkweed patch (approx. 5 minute walk).
- Moncton Region: See below
- Sackville: July 29, 6pm. Location: NB Trail, park near 213 Church St., Sackville (in partnership with EOS Eco-Energy)
- Saint John Region: July 31, 6:30pm. Location: 112-130 Porter Road, Nauwigewauk, NB
- Additional dates to be announced.
Moncton and Dieppe: Monarchs & Cycles
Date: July 27th 2024 (Rain date: August 3rd)
Locations and times:
– 1 Foundry St. Milkweed Patch, Moncton (10:30)
– Place 1604, Dieppe (12:00)
– Surette St. Milkweed Patch, Dieppe (1:30)
(5 km one-way bicycle trip between stops)


Join us for a fun day of wildlife observation with other cyclers, as we celebrate Monarchs & Cycles during the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz! Nature NB, in collaboration with Mission Monarch, is excited to bring this event to you.
Cycling is optional as you can come to any event with a vehicle or by foot, but if you would like to experience all three stops, La Bikery has a number of rental bikes available at their Assomption St location.
Event Highlights:
1 – 10:30 – Moncton stop : Common Milkweed and Monarch Monitoring at the 1 Foundry St. patch: Help us count milkweed stems and monitor Monarch butterflies at all life stages.
2 – 12:00 – Picnic – Place 1604 stop, Dieppe (Bilingual) : Have a picnic with us, with the market nearby! With Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance and Nature NB, learn about native plant seeds and the ease of growing milkweed and other nectar plants in your garden. Discover the PWA’s rain garden projects.
3 – 1:30 – Final Stop (In French): Come check out with us the new garden near Surette Street installed by Les Ami(e)s de la Nature Sud-Est and monitor Monarch butterflies and milkweed.
We invite everyone to participate, whether you can attend all events or just one. Come be a part of this amazing initiative across our continent and help support Monarch conservation!
See you there!
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