East Aurora Advertiser

Protect our Pollinators



Can you imagine life without blueberry pancakes dripping in butter with New York State maple syrup oozing down onto your plate? Or not having strawberry shortcake topped with a hefty scoop of whipped cream? Or maybe not hearing that first pop as you bite into a big juicy apple in the fall or nibble at the nuts atop your Almond Joy candy bar?

We take the enjoyment of these treats for granted, but they could be in jeopardy. 

Did you know that 75 percent of the world depends on pollination for many fruits, vegetables, and nuts for these foods to reproduce? Some of what we eat depends on pollinators for 100 percent of their reproduction. We often think of pollinators as only bees and butterflies, but so are moths, birds, beetles and even bats.

There is a decline of these vital pollinators due to a variety of reasons: changes in agricultural practices, climate change, invasive species, and use of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides on lawns and home gardens. Our job is a simple one: to be a considerate and conscientious consumer.Read labels, become educated on what is safe to use, and find alternatives to having a healthy lawn and garden. Locally, Masterson’s Garden Center on Olean Road sells products that will give you a beautiful lawn and will not be a danger to you, your family, or the pollinators.  

Parents, if you are looking for a project for your children during these long days of the pandemic you may want to explore information on pollinators that is fun and creative. There are many websites available for children: ecofriendlycrafts.com; pollinator.org/beefacts; nrdc.org/attract/bees. Google what is your particular interest. Learn what pollination is all about. Did you know that bees are attracted to certain colors and why this is so? Find out about the wide variety of flowers you can plant in your yard to attract pollinators. Discover how bees see. Learn about the mysterious life of bats.

Special days and weeks are set aside this year to encourage the young and not-so-young to look around, explore, and have fun. Remember Earth Day will soon be here as well as other days or weeks celebrating our natural world.

Earth Day: April 22       

World Bee Day: May 22

Pollinator Week: June 21-27

Moth Week: July 17-25

Bat Week: Oct. 24-31

Aren’t you curious to discover what Bat Week is all about? 

We all are responsible for making this a better world. Something as simple as reducing or eliminating the use of harmful chemicals on our property is a beginning.

A decline in pollinators would have a substantial negative impact on food production in the world. Photo by Bill Kiggen

Remember: Protect our Pollinators.

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Aurorans for Climate and Environmental Sense (ACES) is a citizen group started in 2012 to support the East Aurora Village Climate Smart initiative. Its mission is to engage all residents of greater East Aurora to help East Aurora become a Climate Smart Community through education, planning and action. For more information, email jweide7170@aol.com.

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