Mass migration of monarchs hits Lake Erie shoreline

Millions of orange and black monarch butterflies are migrating to warmer climes in Mexico, and the Lorain County lakefront is proving an ideal place to see the iconic but endangered species. They make a 3,000-mile journey south from Canada each fall to winter in the Sierra Madres — what the Ohio Department of Natural Resources calls "one of the most impressive migrations in the animal kingdom." After making the long, hard flight across Lake Erie, the butterflies rest in Avon Lake, Sheffield Lake, Lorain and Vermilion, said Rachel Kalizewski, a Lorain County Metro Parks naturalist. "Especially along the lake, they use the trees to roost and wait out the weather," she said. The most easily recognizable butterfly species in North America, its population used to number in the billions, according to the nonprofit Monarch Wings Across Ohio. Over the course of the last 20 years, it's seen a 90 percent decline. There are good signs, though: A survey by the World Wildlife Federation last past winter found a 35 percent increase in monarchs wintering in Mexico's forests, compared with the previous year. "This increase marks a sign of recovery — albeit a fragile one — and gives some reason for hope against a backdrop of several decades of decline for the iconic species." Kalizewski said she's seen a lot more monarchs than usual this fall. Lakeview Park in Lorain, Miller Road Park in Avon Lake and the treeline at Main Street Beach in Vermilion are all good spots to look for them, she said. So is Sandy Ridge Reservation in North Ridgeville, where milkweed and other wildflowers provide a good source of food. Ironweed, goldenrod, wingstem brown-eyed Susans, shasta daisies and New England aster are all native species that monarchs like, Kalizewski said. Those types of native species were planted in April 2017 at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy's 62-acre Oberlin Reserve on West Hamilton Street. Spokesman Jared Saylor said the former soybean farm is being rehabilitated as prairie land to help pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Milkweed was an especially important ingredient in that mix, he said — it's the monarch's favorite food source. When colder nights cause milkweed to wither away, it triggers the monarchs' mass migration, Kalizewski said. The Lorain County Metro Parks works each year to help milkweed rejuvenate, since it's so important to the ecosystem, she said. Residents can foster monarchs by gathering milkweed pods in the early fall and planting the seeds, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Planting pollinator gardens is also a huge help, the agency says. They boost insect populations that are beneficial to the state's agriculture, including more than 140 butterfly species that call the Buckeye State home. Monarchs stand alone, though, as the only butterflies that make a two-way seasonal migration like many birds, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The journey is an arduous one. Monarchs only travel during the day, often roosting for the night in cedar, pin or fir trees with thick canopies that protect them from swings in temperature and humidity. They also tend to congregate on peninsulas as they look for the shortest distance across open water, gathering along shorelines to wait for gentle breezes that can lift them across, the Forest Service says. Monarchs can travel 50 to 100 miles per day, alone or in vast groups. They face incredible hazards, Kalizewski said. Chief among them is climate change, which has interfered with monarchs' intuitive knowledge of when to migrate. Early cold weather and summers that drag on are both threats, she said. So is the destruction of open fields due to housing and commercial developments. Kalizewski said monarchs must fly farther than ever now to find the flowers they rely on for nectar. Fresh-cut lawns look nice to people, but they've hurt butterfly populations. Biologist Judy Semroc spent Wednesday at the lakefront finding 27 monarchs and affixing them with tags in an effort to see how many make it to wintering spots in Mexico. "It was a real banner day," she said. "They were all over a couple of the plants that are very, very sought-out by them." Butterflies are too small for the sort of electronic trackers biologists use on large animals. Instead, Semroc attaches to their wings small, sticky dots about the size of a hole punch. The water-resistant marks are hunted down by researchers in Mexico and reported back. Semroc said the process has been used for years, providing a good look at population trends. In 2014, President Barack Obama issued a directive to support monarch migration. It spurred cooperation by wildlife groups and government agencies across the country to focus on restoring monarch habitats. But earlier this summer, migratory monarchs were declared an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It listed logging and deforestation along with the use of pesticides and herbicides as major contributors to the problem. Western monarchs, which journey from California through the Rocky Mountains to Mexico, are at the greatest risk of extinction, the IUCN said. Once numbering around 10 million, that species fell to 1,914 in 2021; it reportedly has rebounded to around 200,000 now. "It is difficult to watch monarch butterflies and their extraordinary migration teeter on the edge of collapse, but there are signs of hope," said Anna Walker, a member of the IUCN Butterfly and Moth Specialist Group. "So many people and organizations have come together to try and protect this butterfly and its habitats. From planting native milkweed and reducing pesticide use to supporting the protection of overwintering sites and contributing to community science, we all have a role to play in making sure this iconic insect makes a full recovery." Kalizewski said she loves monarchs and likes to think shining a light on their plight will convince people to help save them. "Whereas we see the eagle went the other way, now we're seeing the (monarch) butterfly declining instead of getting better," she said. "… My prediction, my hope, is that it's going to be better now that we know what their future holds." Reporter Jason Hawk can be reached at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.