Marin Monarch Working Group
Western monarch butterflies used to be a common sight in Marin. But the number of monarchs in the county has declined by 99% since the 1980s.
Causes of this decline include climate change, habitat loss, natural predators, and pesticide use.
It’s not too late to act…but the time to act is now. Join the Marin Monarch Working Group to learn how you can help the monarch!
Who We Are
The Marin Monarch Working Group was established in 2019 to address the existential crisis facing the western monarch, one of California’s most iconic creatures.
We call on educators, biologists and botanists, gardeners and monarch lovers to join us and learn how to become involved in supporting the survival of the Western monarch butterfly.
Public Education and Advocacy
We disseminate science-based information about monarchs via our newsletter, website, social media, on-line meetings, and tabling at local events. We encourage and guide local residents’ outreach to local and state officials about policies and practices for helping monarchs.
Community Science
Community science draws upon data collected by community members trained to observe and create a record of their observations. We connect local monarch lovers with training and monitoring opportunities led by MMWG co-founder, Mia Monroe.
Habitat Restoration
We take on projects to create and restore monarch habitats in private and public spaces. And we work with other groups engaging in this important work.
Updates from the MMWG!
Sign up for a Butterfly ID Clinic…
11 AM on Saturday June 13
MMWG is sponsoring a butterfly identification clinic. Take it for fun or use it to brush up your ID skills if you plan on participating in one or both of the local butterfly counts happening this summer (see box below).
The event will take place at the Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Ross. The instructor is longtime butterfly enthusiast and count leader Wendy Dreskin. We will hear from Wendy and look around for butterflies in the extensive MAGC garden.
Bring your lunch and join us at MAGC. A $10 donation is suggested for non-students. Please bring cash or donate using this link: https://secure.everyaction.com/fAOB1TlsLkuahhdaz5UcvQ2
Please RSVP at marinmonarchwg@gmail.com and we will respond with specifics about where to meet Wendy and the group.
AND….Take Part in the 2026 Butterfly Counts in Marin
The North American Butterfly Association has run the Butterfly Count Program since 1993. Each of the 450 annual counts consists of a compilation of all butterflies observed at sites with a 15-mile diameter count circle in a one-day period. Comparisons of the results across years is used to monitor change in butterfly populations and study the effects on them of habitat loss, climate change, and pesticides.
The NABA dataset was a primary source of information for the influential study published in 2025 in the journal Science: Rapid Butterfly Declines across the United States during the 21st Century.
In Marin there are two butterfly counts. You can take part in either one whether or not you have attended an ID clinic.
Central Marin Butterfly Count on Sunday June 21st. To participate contact Wendy Dreskin at wendydreskin@gmail.com
Point Reyes Butterfly Count on Saturday July 18th. To participate contact Ed Nute at pointreyesbutterflycount@gmail.com
Join our mailing list
Everyone on the mailing list receives our monthly newsletter and an email invitation to attend our regular MMWG zoom meetings, where we share information on the status of the monarchs and plan actions to safeguard their welfare.
Please consider making a donation
Everyone associated with MMWG activities works on a volunteer basis, but we welcome donations to support our projects. Donated funds are used to cover purchases like plants for restoration projects and materials for the production of our handouts.
If you would like to contribute to MMWG, please write a check to the Marin Monarch Working Group and send it to the following address:
MMWG (c/o TIRN) PO Box 370 Forest Knolls, CA. 94933
Comments Welcome!
Please send comments and suggestions about this website to Susan Holloway at susandholloway@gmail.com