How Mamaroneck Is Trying To Conserve Endangered Monarch Butterflies

MAMARONECK, NY — The work we put into helping to protect pollinators may well end up saving ourselves in the process.

Three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce, according to the USDA.

On July 21, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature said that migrating monarch butterflies have moved closer to extinction in the past decade — prompting scientists to officially designate them as “endangered." The monarch butterfly population has reportedly declined by as much as 84 percent between 1996 to 2021.

According to Mandy Sticos from the Village of Mamaroneck Committee for the Environment, there are many things that residents can do to help improve the local ecosystem, thereby helping the Monarch Butterfly.

SEE ALSO: Monarch Butterfly Populations Plummet, Face Extinction: You Can Help

On Saturday, September 24, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., you can join the "flutter" of activity and celebrate the migration of the endangered monarch butterflies at the Mamaroneck Monarch Butterfly Festival at Harbor Island Park.

The Village of Mamaroneck Committee for the Environment and the Village of Mamaroneck Department of Parks and Recreation will be hosting educational activities, crafts, music, food, raffle prizes, giveaways and tons of family fun.

No live butterflies will be at the festival — unless you catch a glimpse of them flying to Mexico.

Children will receive a passport to track their 'migration' at the festival. Residents will be able to join in planting a community butterfly garden to bloom next spring.

You are encouraged to dress up as your favorite pollinator because there will be a contest. Pollinators include: butterflies, bees, beetles, wasps, bats and hummingbirds.

The Mamaroneck Monarch Butterfly Festival is free and you can register here. The rain date will be September 25.

There will also be a free Zoom event with author Ann Hobbie on Wednesday, September 28, from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. She will read and discuss her book, Monarch Butterflies, and children will be able to pick up a Take + Make craft kit ahead of time to make a "Life Cycle Butterfly" bracelet led by the author on Zoom. You can register here.

Be sure to also attend the bi-annual Committee for the Environment Clean + Green Day. Residents will be able to volunteer to pick up trash around the village, creating a cleaner environment for people, plants and animals. The date will be announced soon.

Things the Village of Mamaroneck Did This Year To Help The Endangered Monarch:

• Mayor Tom Murphy signed the National Wildlife Federation Mayor's Monarch Pledge.
• Village Manager, Jerry Barberio and Foreman of the Parks Department, Jeff Ahne maintained Harbor Island Park with NO pesticides, proving the park to be the village's largest "Healthy Yard."
• 150 residents at the bi-annual Clean + Green event on May 14 received native plant seeds.
• 40 donated books on the monarch butterfly, native plants and the ecosystem went to the Mamaroneck Public library, Central Elementary School, Mamaroneck Avenue Elementary School, F.E. Bellows School and Daniel Warren Elementary.
• 60 milkweed seedlings were given to Mamaroneck residents.
• Milkweed was planted in the Village of Mamaroneck Community Garden.
• 130+ milkweed plants were identified, cordoned and preserved on Village of Mamaroneck property.
• The Village of Mamaroneck Recreation Department 4th grade campers spent an afternoon learning about monarchs and creating chalk art and facts at Harbor Island Park.