Spring migration update #9: Western monarch population news from Gail Morris

Happy Pollinator Week! As the Summer Solstice draws near, monarchs are surging into Oregon and Idaho with reports they are touching the Washington state border. Monarch movement now gradually stops as they set up breeding grounds across the entire West. Keep your eyes open for monarchs as you celebrate the warm days of summer! 

Recent Monarch Sightings 

Here is a sample of new reports of monarchs this week: 

Emily saw her first monarch of the season in Rough and Ready, California on June 5. “First monarch in the garden ever- 10 years.” In Utah, Brian saw two monarchs on June 9 in Altonah. “Two adults flying around a lilac shrub.” 

Stephanie in Shaw, Oregon, saw her first monarch on June 9,“Laying eggs on milkweed.” While Bob saw a monarch on the same day in Corvallis, Oregon. He observed one “in a native plant urban residential landscape. It is the first I have seen in Oregon in years.”  

From the Field 

Hoping you find monarchs wherever you live in the West this summer.  Don’t hesitate to snap photos of monarchs visiting seasonal flowers or their eggs or larvae. Maybe if you are lucky you’ll see a pupa near milkweed along the way. Report what you are seeing and experiencing and we’ll share your encounter mid-summer. Heat waves, heavy rains or warm sunny days can affect the size of this summer’s breeding population. Let us see what you see for a peek view! 

Hard to believe but the Fall Migration will be here before you know it. Consider tagging monarchs to learn more about their migration destination or monitoring milkweed and/or nectar resources to learn about monarch habitats. If you are interested and live in the states of Washington, Oregon or Idaho, contact Monarchs of the Pacific Northwest to tag. 

If you live in Nevada, Utah, western Colorado, Arizona or New Mexico contact the Southwest Monarch Study. You may be interested in a new monarch tagging opportunity in California this fall through a new permit we received for the Southwest Monarch Study. We’ll have a one-hour “Tagging Monarchs in California” Zoom meeting on Tuesday, June 25 at 7 PM California time. Reservations are required: email

Monarch Blitz

Remember the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz is right around the corner. Mark your calendars: 26 August - 4 August, 2024.

Send in your reports! 

We need your monarch sightings! Monarch numbers are increasing this time of year as they lay eggs expanding the population on their migration to the summer breeding grounds. If you are lucky enough to see a monarch, please report your sighting of any adult, eggs or larvae to Journey North. Your detailed description of what you see can include, but is not limited to, the monarch’s gender and activity. If known, include the type of flowers if they are nectaring or milkweed type if laying eggs. We also encourage you to report milkweed up! Photos encouraged and welcomed with all your reports. 

Gail Morris is the Coordinator of the Southwest Monarch Study (www.swmonarchs.org and the Western Monarch Advocates. She is also a Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist, and the Vice President of the Central Arizona Butterfly Association. The Western Monarch Population News is based on comments provided to Gail Morris. We hope to increase the number of sightings and therefore photos and comments entered into Journey North. We rely on the volunteers who communicate regularly with Gail and who agree to participate in our effort to increase awareness of the population of western Monarchs. You can reach her at gail@swmonarchs.org