Spot Monarch Butterflies in Georgia This Winter

If you’ve spotted a monarch butterfly perched on a milkweed plant lately, the science world wants to hear from you. For the past few winters, folks across Georgia and neighboring Southeastern states have been keeping their eyes peeled for these iconic orange and black butterflies.

And guess what? It’s that time of year again. Monarchs Overwintering in the Southeastern States, a partnership of researchers, agencies, and conservationists, is calling for your help. They’re looking for observations of monarch butterflies—adults, eggs, larvae, or pupae—spotted anywhere from Georgia to Texas, November through March.

Dr. Sonia Altizer, a professor UGA and director of Project Monarch Health, explains why these sightings are so valuable. Scientists are trying to figure out if monarchs are overwintering as non-breeding adults in the southern U.S. and how that might affect their numbers in the future. Plus, they want to understand how these winter-breeding behaviors could shake up their legendary migration to Mexico.

So, how can you get involved? Reporting is easy and free. You can use Journey North or iNaturalist to log your sightings. Both platforms walk you through the process step-by-step, and your efforts will be part of a larger effort to conserve this at-risk species.

DNR biologist Anna Yellin says they’re already grateful for the community’s enthusiasm. “When we work together like this, we really can make a difference in protecting monarchs for future generations,” she says.

Workshops for Nature Enthusiasts

Want to dive deeper into nature education? Georgia has some amazing workshops coming up for educators and enthusiasts alike:

• The Flying WILD Educator Workshop on February 15 at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center focuses on bird conservation activities for K-12 classrooms; $15 per person.
• The Project WILD Workshop on March 15 at Arrowhead Environmental Education Center offers terrestrial and aquatic guides with Georgia-focused content; $32 per person, lunch not included.
• Another Project WILD Workshop on March 15 at Georgia Southern University provides the same resources with regional natural resource insights; $32 per person, no lunch included.
• The Project WILD/Growing Up WILD Combined Workshop on March 29 at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center explores both curriculums with included guides, resources, and lunch; $65 per person.
• The Triple Climate Resilience Workshop on February 22 at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center introduces climate education activities for middle and high school programs; $35 per person, lunch not included.
• The Teacher Conservation Workshop from June 16–20 at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center covers forestry and wildlife management in Georgia through a five-day program; $65 per person.
• The Outdoor Wildlife Leadership School (OWLS) from July 7–11 at Epworth By the Sea offers hands-on learning in Georgia’s coastal ecosystems, supported by a grant; $175 per person.

Butterfly Fun for Kids and Classrooms

Feeling inspired to bring butterflies into your classroom? Check out activities like this one to teach kids about the butterfly life cycle. You can even pair lessons with a butterfly song to keep it engaging.

And did you know Georgia is home to over 160 species of butterflies? The Georgia DNR offers a downloadable field guide and checklists to help budding naturalists identify them all. And don’t miss this Monarchs Across Georgia resource full of great ideas.

If you’re out there spotting monarchs this winter—or just looking for ways to connect with nature—this season is full of opportunities to make a difference. Keep an eye on those milkweeds, and don’t forget to share what you see!