Whether you have an emotional, aesthetic, or nostalgic connection to pollinators; want to promote biodiversity or restore habitat; or simply enjoy food and want food security, there is an action you can take to support pollinators. #PollinatorWeek
In 2007, the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has now grown into an international celebration, promoting the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles.
Register/Map your event here: Pollinator Week Event Registration 2021
What Can I Do?
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Join the Illinois Sierra Club Monarch Team. Connect with your local Group here.
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Take the Illinois Monarch Project Pledge as an individual or organization and ask your mayor, park district, library to sign the pledge, resolution or proclamation. #ILMonarchProject
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Plant native plants, including milkweed, that bloom throughout the growing season so pollinators have a steady supply of energy. Midwest Regional Planting Guide. Illinois Native Plant Society: Native Plant Sales. Central Illinois Native Plant Swap.
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Reduce pesticide, herbicide, and insecticide use which may kill pollinating insects; and avoid buying plants that have been sprayed. Pollinator-Friendly Pest Control Strategies.
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Remove invasives, or plants that take over, such as honeysuckle and wintercreeper.
Uncertain if native or invasive? Learn to ID plants with the Seek app by iNaturalist.* -
Reduce areas of mown lawn. Illinois Monarch Project Mowing Guidelines.
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Support local bees and beekeepers. Search: your zip code + “beekeepers association”.
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Advocate saving and creating grasslands and natural spaces. Support organizations that protect and enhance habitat, and work to make sure we have sound government policy that protects land while ensuring fair compensation for our farmers. Visit the 3,800-acre Nachusa Grasslands or Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Express your interest in a future Quad Cities Bison Bridge.
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Additional activities by age, social media templates, open source graphics and photos, buyable swag, and additional resources in the Pollinator Partnership toolkit.
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Insatiable desire for more information about pollinators? Michigan State University is offering a comprehensive free Pollinator Champions course. While learning is free, teaching others is not: $30 for access to their pollinator powerpoint, certification, and handouts.
*DuPage Monarch Project BioBlitz:
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Register here to attend one of three free online iNaturalist tutorials to learn and practice with the app.
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Identical tutorials: June 12th from 10-11AM CDT, June 17th 7-8PM, or June 18th 9-10AM.
Their week-long pollinator BioBlitz using iNaturalist runs from June 21 - 27. The BioBlitz observations are for DuPage County, Illinois, but anyone is welcome to attend the online tutorials above.