Mission in flight
By Jim Wilson & Cleo Cyr
Leaders of Holy Trinity Church located along the beautiful Hammond River in Kings County were pleased to host Jim Wilson, a long-time parishioner, along with members of the Saint John Naturalists’ Club as they met for their annual packaging of milkweed seeds.
Jim Wilson is not only an avid birder, having verified over 400 bird species in New Brunswick over 60 years, but also a naturalist dedicated to the preservation of the monarch butterfly.
MONARCHS IN PERIL
Milkweeds are the only plants that Monarch butterflies can lay their eggs on and have their caterpillars eat the leaves and successfully grow to become adult butterflies. The plants are crucial for reproduction.
Jim notes that the overall population of the monarch butterfly has been "grim" for decades, with a 90 per cent decline in the last 30 years.
While observing seabirds at Point Lepreau, he noticed that the butterflies were coming through the same area and possibly even migrating along the same route.
After attending a monarch butterfly tagging workshop in New Jersey in 2005, Jim brought the initiative back to the province, where he and the Saint John Naturalists’ Club continue the work.
Monarch butterflies winter in Mexico and always leave Mexico at the same time in spring. The determining factor for when they arrive in Canada is weather.
The decline in the Monarch population led the Saint John Naturalists’ Club to look at changing that trend by attempting to increase the distribution of vital milkweed more widely across New Brunswick.
Swamp milkweed has fibrous roots, so they won't spread like invasive weeds. While they are a major staple for monarch butterflies, Jim says they are also a big hit with other threatened insects — bees.
PARISH HELP
The 24 volunteers at Holy Trinity, including a few friends of the Club, packaged 2,033 packets of swamp milkweed seeds, 2,000 of which will be distributed free of charge to gardeners and property owners across New Brunswick this winter by the provincial natural heritage organization, Nature NB.
The other 33 will be given out locally.
Swamp and Common milkweed are native plants to New Brunswick, but their distribution is limited to mostly the western half of the province. Jim notes that the objective is to widen the availability of swamp milkweed across New Brunswick as it’s a perennial that can be successfully grown in gardens.
If you would like to receive packages of milkweed seeds, contact Nature NB in Fredericton (www.naturenb.ca).
Jim Wilson is a former president of the Saint John Naturalists’ Club and a recipient of both the Roland Michener Conservation Award from the Canadian Wildlife Federation (2018) and the Order of New Brunswick (2019).
Cleo Cyr is a mission leader and parish nurse.
Photo captions:
1. Parishioners and others gathered recently to package milkweed seeds for distribution in the province. Milkweed is the only plant monarch butterflies are able to lay eggs on.
2. Monarch on a milkweed plant. Photo credit: ashlee-marie-unsplash.com
3. The raw materials - seeds, spoons and envelopes to hold the seeds.
4. Cecile MacLeod, Jeannette Perry and Maureen Boone during the seed packaging event in the Parish of Quispamsis.
Submitted photos