HABITAT RESTORATION

PROJECT
COMMUNITY SANCTUARIES

Community sanctuaries come in a variety of forms, as citizens rise up to the challenge of fighting against Monarch decimation and ultimate extinction of the Monarch migration. For example, a fun and highly energized volunteer group, The Mighty Monarchs in Sandpoint Idaho, have planted two significant waystations for the Monarch in the summer of 2023: one in the Pine Street Woods and the other at the Sandpoint Library. An excellent start for an energized and passionate group of volunteers. If you are in the area, go by to admire their work, planting both milkweed and nectar plants for the Monarch's survival.

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Another example is the city of Rathdrum, Idaho declaring itself a Monarch Sanctuary City and dedicating land for the planting of milkweed and permitting of a seasonal exhibit on city property for educating the public on the entire life cycle of the Monarch. We hope that other cities in Idaho will follow Rathdrum's lead. After all, the Monarch is the state insect for Idaho. Would it not be ironic (and tragic) to lose the very life creation that Idahoans so deeply identify with?

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A third example is the Collective Neighborhood Sanctuary, where a mass mailing is done to every home in a cohesive neighborhood with notice of a date and time where a Monarch flight house is set up, and an open invitation is given to come and see the beautiful creatures and learn about the Monarch life cycle and migratory challenges. The neighbors are then given the opportunity to take home with them small milkweed plants ready for planting. We have found that giving out seeds, in spite of best intentions, often end up in a drawer somewhere, but plants get planted and cared for. 

PROJECT

POWERLINES

The Pacific Northwest is rich in power production, with giant powerlines carrying that energy from various locations in the north down to California. It is known that Monarchs utilize powerline right-of-ways as an easy way to aid their journey along their migratory path.

WingsRising wants to turn Powerline right-of-ways into superhighways for Monarch migration, both for spring and fall migrations. How? By gaining permission on powerline easement land, to plant indigenous milkweed (the Monarch's sole host plant for laying eggs and raising caterpillars) along with spring and fall flowering  nectar plants. The land cannot be developed and has no use other than to support the powerline corridor. What a perfect place to plant milkweed and nectar plants!

Coordinating with the volunteers in the milkweed relocation service for farmers, mature milkweed plants can be dug from farmland (with permission of the farmer) and immediately transported to other volunteers for replanting along one of the powerline corridors running from the Pacific Northwest into California.

Critical to the rapid success of this project is the use of mature milkweed plants for planting, rather than attempting the same process from seeds, which require at least 2 yrs of increased watering and attention before the plant is sufficiently established to be counted on to be self-sustaining. Mature plants have already developed a rhizome root system that will allow it to adjust to it new environment and establish itself in the same year of planting.

PROJECT

LAND PRESERVATION

DOUBLE DOWN 

WingsRising did not invent the land conservation trust. The  concept has been around for decades for the protection of forests, wetlands, land with water sources, even public parks and natural wonders. If the land is already preserved once for a good purpose, why not double down and add something else good for the land to preserve? That is exactly our thinking! We approach existing land preservation or conservation trusts that are stewards of specific preservation land, and ask permission to plant additional indigenous milkweed and spring and fall flowering nectar plants on the property. Thus far, this approach has been remarkably well received with the exception of dedicated bird sanctuaries that benefit insect eating birds (Monarchs are toxic to birds if eaten). While birds are generally smart enough not to eat Monarch at any stage of development, this isolated reason is the sole basis thus far for being hesitant with the double down strategic cooperation.

PROJECT

CPR

(COMMERCIAL PROPERTY RESTORATION)

Land populated with well established indigenous milkweed (the sole host plant for Monarch egg laying and caterpillar development) is being bulldozed under to make room for a new shopping mall or big box superstore. The owner of the store is not aware that the development of their store has lowered the chances of Monarch survival another notch. But every development, once the building is up and the parking lot is paved, replant a green space around the building development. WingsRising is approaching these commercial property owners with the easy CPR (commercial property restoration) proposition to restore a portion of the property back to indigenous plant species like milkweed and spring and fall floral nectar plants. While this display would be quite attractive and add to any landscaping plan, it need not be upfront where the public can see, but can be located in the back of the commercial development. The Monarch won't care where it is located. The commercial property owner can gain valuable public service benefits when WingsRising publishes what commercial properties are volunteering to participate in this vital environmental restoration project.