Each fall, monarch butterflies migrate from the eastern United States and Canada to mountains in central Mexico where they wait out the winter until conditions favor a return flight in the spring. In March they begin to journey north laying eggs along the way. Port Aransas is on their journey path. During migration, monarchs will fly about 25 -30 miles a day. Monarchs find milkweed using their sense of sight and smell. Monarchs rely on specific habitats to shelter and feed their larvae and to provide nectar to fuel adult movement and survival.
Monarch Waystations are places that provide resources necessary for monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration. In North America monarch caterpillars rely on milkweed (Asclepias sp.). After the egg hatches, the caterpillar feeds on milkweed exclusively and does not leave the host plant until it is ready to pupate. Therefore, milkweed is known as the host plant for monarchs.
Spring blooming nectar plants fuel the monarch migration northward from Mexico. Summer blooming nectar sources are vital to sustain a healthy breeding population. Monarchs rely on abundant nectar sources in the fall to store enough energy not only to survive the long journey to their overwintering sites, but also to survive winter with very minimal nectar availability.
Port Aransas Garden Club was awarded grant monies by the Native Plant Society of Texas in their Spring 2021 “Bring Back the Monarch” campaign. Joan Holt, Garden Club member and Rae Mooney, Nature Preserve Manager for the City of Port Aransas wrote the grant. PAGC was one of 42 recipients. The Monarch Waystation is located at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center. It is over 1000 square feet. With this waystation, our goals are to further both Monarch Butterfly conservation and education and to promote and showcase the use of Texas native plants.
Our Monarch Waystation habitat provides food sources for both caterpillars and adult butterflies. Our caterpillar host plants are Zizotes, Antelope Horn, and Swamp milkweed. Some of our nectar plants include Turks Cap, Texas Lantana, Esperanza, Jatropha, Skull Cap, Golden Rod, Tropical Sage, Spider Lily, Gulf Muhly, Padre Island Mistflower and a Mexican Olive tree. We have a 6:1 ratio of nectar to milkweed.
Please come out and visit our Monarch Waystation at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, 1356 Ross Avenue, Port Aransas TX 78373.