CAPE MAY POINT- This is the time of year when it seems Monarch butterflies are everywhere you look. A group in Cape May Point explains and examines the annual phenomenon.

It's Monarch madness in Cape May Point, as millions of the brightly colored creatures descend upon our area as part of their annual migration.

"I catch hundreds of Monarchs on a good day with this net and put a tag on each one," said Bradley Smith, field technician for the Monarch Monitoring Project in Cape May. Members of the organization count the butterflies three times a day during September and October and tag the insects for research purposes.

"What it does is allows us to kind of put together a barometer of Monarch population," explained the project director, Dick Walton, "Are they increasing? Are they decreasing? This looks like an above average year."

Believe it or not, the small tags stay on all the way to Mexico, which is where the tropical butterflies are traveling to for the winter. It'll take the delicate creatures a little over a month to fly almost 2,500 miles; weather and wind permitting. "This is a very dangerous journey for a little butterfly to make," said Smith, "that's why there's so many of them, just to ensure that a lot of them it and continue the species each year."

"The thing about Cape May Point is it's geographical position and if you think of NJ as a funnel, everything coming from the North, really is funneled down into this area," explained Walton.

There are several things you can plant in your garden that will attract Monarchs, like a butterfly bush. It's easy to see how the plant got it's name, the butterflies love the sweet nectar it produces. "As adults, butterflies and Monarchs, as well, seek nectar sources and that's to provide energy," said Walton.

Energy that is much needed as the colorful creatures take off on their very long journey.

The Nature Center of Cape May will host the annual Harbor Fair and Monarch celebration this Saturday.

Anyone interested in volunteering with the Monarch Monitoring Project can click here for more information.