American Bird Conservancy

The Migratory Western Monarch Butterfly (danaus Plexippus Plexippus) Is Increasingly at Risk of Extinction, Requiring Landscape-scale Intervention Focused on the Most Vulnerable Periods of Its Annual Life Cycle to Help Conserve Its Populations and Preserve Its Unique Migration. Specifically, One of the Greatest Limiting Factors to Migrating Western Monarch Butterflies Likely Occurs During the Overwintering and Early Breeding Stages of the Species Life Cycle. Management and Restoration Centered on the Early Breeding Zone Is Thus Considered a Key Priority, and in Response to This Need, a Collaborative Effort Is Underway to Advance Our Understanding of Early Season Milkweeds in California, With the Goals OF:1. Identifying Areas Where Early Season Milkweeds Are Growing on the Landscape, Including Seed Collection for Plant Materials and Leaf Collection for Pesticide SAMPLING.2. Determining Western Monarchs Usage of Early Season Milkweeds at Known, Native STANDS.3. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Existing Plantings at Early Season Milkweed Sites, AND4. Conducting New Plantings of Early Season Milkweed to Provide Additional Early Spring Larval and Adult Habitat Resources to Western Monarchs and Determine the Components of Restoration That Will Increase Their Populations Performance (i.e., This Proposal).this Project Encompasses the Fourth Priority Action, Where New Plantings of Early Season Milkweed Will Provide Additional Early Spring Habitat for Both Migrating and Breeding Western Monarchs as They Navigate From Their Overwintering Sites to Interior and Summer Breeding Habitats. the Project Will Also Aid in Determining Key Components of Milkweed Restoration That May Increase Species Populations Performance, Especially as Land Managers and Their Partners Consider Scaling Up Restoration Efforts Across the Central Coast of California. the Project Will Provide Guidance to Inform Broad-scale Implementation Efforts With Respect to Irrigation, Herbivory Protection, Planting Arrangements, and Other Related Variables to Enhance the Feasibility and Viability of Early Season Milkweed Restoration Work. Importantly, With a Successful Restoration Project, Future Seed Will Become Available From the Study Sites to Provide Seed Material for Other Restoration Efforts. Some of Which Are Extremely Limited in Supply. Ultimately, Lessons Learned From This Effort Will Aid in Scaling Up Early Season Milkweed Restoration Endeavors Statewide.