Western Monarch Count

Western Monarch Count is a community-powered initiative administered by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation to track overwintering western monarch butterflies and their habitat. The project supports science-based conservation by organizing volunteers to monitor monarchs at California overwintering sites during scheduled seasonal counts. Participants can find registration details, volunteer guidance, monitoring instructions, and answers to frequently asked questions. The site also provides ways to submit count data and report threats or damage to overwintering habitat.

Beyond monitoring, Western Monarch Count shares educational resources on western monarch biology, identifying monarchs and similar species, disease prevention, and overwintering site management. Its conservation guidance encourages restoring breeding and migratory habitat, reducing pesticide risks, protecting and managing overwintering sites, and raising awareness about monarchs and pollinators. Visitors can explore updates, events, training materials, publications, and information about visiting monarch sites in California. The initiative invites people to participate in community science, sign up for communications, and support the Xerces Society through membership or donations.