Unsung Pollinators of the U.S.
Conservation begins with you!
Pollinators need food and a home
People need food and a home
How you can help us!
While we may live in different places and have very different lifestyles, there is one thing we have in common besides pollination. We are under threat from climate change. Hotter summers and falls, colder winters, extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods and hotter, more frequent, bigger fires are impacting our ability to survive and provide important services to other living things - including people.
One of the most important things you can do is talk about us - share with others the stories you've learned through us! Have conversations with your family, friends, neighbors, teachers and classmates. Help to educate others about pollinators.
Help Rusti...
Plant the flowers I need for nectar and pollen. Check to see what is native and will grow in your area.
Find out more about native bees where you live in North America.
Join iNaturalist's Backyard Bumble Bee Count and become a citizen scientist.
Work with your friends and community to start a community garden.
Reseach how to attract native pollinators:
www.fws.gov/pollinators/pdfs/PollinatorBookletFinalrevWeb.pdf.
Help Sphinxy...
Support research and citizen science projects that restore, manage and protect important hawk moth habitats.
With over 1,450 species of hawk moths on Earth [8], find out if you have any living in your neighborhood.
At sunset visit a patch of flowers in your neighborhood, and count and draw how many pollinators you observe [9].
Build your own moon garden to support your local, nocturnal pollinators.
Work with a mentor or friend to list any pesticides used around your home. Think about how best to switch to sustainable and eco-friendly natural products [9].
Help Paldo...
Birds are important pollinators - learn more about them.
Please do not release your pets into the wild, this includes fish, birds and reptiles.
Find out more about Hawaii's endangered birds.
Plant flowers for your local bird pollinators, check here for resources.
Use Merlin or Seek apps to identify birds and nature around you!
Help Pollena...
Bats can be found in most regions in the US, so hop on iNaturalist and see who's living near you. Even better, record any sightings to help bat researchers and conservationists.
Build your own moon garden to support your local, nocturnal pollinators.
Turn off outdoor lighting at night to help migrating pollinators fly safely.
If you live in Texas or New Mexico, document flowering agave and columnar cacti during the spring and summer here to keep track of how much food I have available to me and my babies. [7]
Help Caro...
Turn of the lights.
Let the grass grow a bit longer before you mow.
Avoid pesticides on your plants.
Leaves leaves on the ground.
Plant native wildflowers.
Learn about pollinators in your area.
Tell your friends about me!!
Reference
(1) Measuring Empathy: A Collaborative Assessment Project (n.d.). Semantic differential scale (age 13 and up). https://www.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/Semantic%20scale_teen-adult_FINAL.pdf