“Even in a low year there are still millions of monarch butterflies that migrate south to Mexico,” said the education manager at Rowe Sanctuary. “Obviously the more people we have tagging, the better the chances.”

The tagging effort, part of a volunteer-based citizen science project, seeks to gather information on the migration of monarch butterflies from North America to the butterflies’ wintering grounds in Mexico. Orley Taylor, professor emeritus from the University of Kansas, founded the informal organization, Monarch Watch, 26 years ago to help him study the insects.

The project uses small, lightweight coded stickers that volunteers place on the wings of the butterflies. When done correctly, the stickers do not harm or impede the monarchs.

“Nebraska was one state where they didn’t have very many taggers,” Yates said. “We’re happy to be doing our part to help tag some butterflies this year.”

Rowe Sanctuary will host Monarch Watch Tagging, 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the sanctuary at 44450 Elm Island Road, southwest of Gibbon. Participants will be divided into three groups of 12 individuals. Registration is required to attend the free event. To ensure the safety of staff, volunteers and other visitors, masks are required when within 6 feet of people outside of your household.