Archived News Release: June 7, 2018 - Every year in June, for one week, organizations all around the country raise awareness for pollinators, their importance to our ecosystem, how to reduce our impacts to pollinators, how to improve their habitat and other ways to get involved. Animal pollinators, including bees, butterflies, beetles, bats and birds, are responsible for the reproduction of 75 percent of flowering plants. Pollinators contribute to ecosystem health and a sustainable food supply. Pollinator Week, initiated and managed by the Pollinator Partnership, is dedicated to uniting the nation around the issue of pollinator conservation.
City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation (NAP) will host four events to celebrate the Pollinator Partnership's National Pollinator Week, which is June 18-24.
Saturday, June 23, 9 a.m.–noon
Barton Nature Area
Pollinator Week is an international celebration of bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles! Barton Nature Area is one of the top spots to see butterflies in Ann Arbor. Help us protect their habitat by pulling invasive species in the prairie. Meet at the Barton Dam parking lot just north of Bird Road on Huron River Drive.
Saturday, June 23, 1–4 p.m.
Kuebler Langford Nature Area
Love butterflies? This nature area is home to 35 species! Join us during Pollinator Week to maintain butterfly habitat by pulling non-native species around the park. Meet at the park entrance on Beechwood Drive, north of Sunset Road.
Sunday, June 24, 9 a.m.–noon
Bluffs Nature Area
This once-disturbed site is now home to a prairie and many butterflies and insects. Celebrate Pollinator Week with NAP by pulling invasive species that threaten this precious pollinator habitat. Meet at the entrance on Sunset Road, near Wildt Street.
Sunday, June 24, 1–4 p.m.
Olson Park
Celebrate Pollinator Week by helping butterflies and other insect pollinators! This park is home to the city's largest population of wild indigo duskywing butterflies, a rare species in our area. Help improve habitat for pollinators by pulling non-native species in the prairie. Meet at the entrance on Dhu Varren Road, just east of Pontiac Trail.
For all NAP Stewardship Workdays, please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All participants must complete a release form and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools, snacks and know-how provided. Stewardship Workday events are free. No RSVP is necessary for these Pollinator Week events, however if you have questions, or if you'd like to volunteer with your group of eight or more, please contact NAP at 734.794.6627 or [email protected].
For more information on nationwide events, visit www.pollinator.org. To get involved locally, join NAP for one of these workdays in Ann Arbor's pollinator habitats.
Established in 1997, Pollinator Partnership (P2) is the largest 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to the health, protection, and conservation of all pollinating animals. P2's actions for pollinators include education, conservation, restoration, policy and research. P2's financial support comes through grants, gifts, memberships and donations from any interested party. P2's policies are science-based, set by its board of directors, and never influenced by any donor. For more information visit www.pollinator.org.
City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation (NAP) works to protect and restore Ann Arbor's natural areas and to foster an environmental ethic among its citizens. This involves conducting plant and animal inventories, ecological monitoring and stewardship projects in Ann Arbor parks. Both staff and volunteers perform these tasks. For more information about NAP, visit www.a2gov.org/NAP.
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Image courtesy of Marianne D'Angelo.
