Birds, bats, bees, bugs… oh my!

As we dive into fall, let’s take a moment to acknowledge some unsung heroes of spring and summer… pollinators! Pollination occurs when pollen is carried from the male part of a flower (stamen) to the female part (stigma) of another flower. When this happens, the plant is now fertilized and can produce fruits, seeds, and young plants. Pollination is an essential ecological function that ensures the survival of all life on earth. This vital process can occur a few different ways: self-pollination, via wind or water, and (the one we are focusing on) via animals and insects.

Did you know that 80% of crop plants grown around the world require pollination by animals or insects? This means that those plants could not reproduce without the help of creatures like beetles, wasps, ants, bees, flies, bats, moths, hummingbirds, butterflies, and more! These creatures, known as pollinators, travel to these plants for food (they either eat the nectar, or the pollen), shelter, or to find a mate, and then pollen attaches itself to the pollinator and when the pollinator moves to a new plant, that pollen is distributed.

In the Coastal Bays, and around the world, pollinator populations are declining primarily because of habitat loss and inappropriate (and excessive) use of pesticides and herbicides. The most important pollinators in Maryland are bees and butterflies (we have 400 species of bees in Maryland!) and their habitat is declining. Many backyard habitat practices can help a variety of wildlife, including pollinators! Below are a few resources to help you start creating pollinator friendly habitat:

Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Bee Friendly Backyards (Maryland DNR)

Pollinator Certification Program (Lower Shore Land Trust)

What’s the Buzz: All About Pollinators (Maryland DNR)

If you or your family are interested in learning more about the specific pollinators in your very own backyard, check out this great pollinator journal from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and head outside to explore!

It is very important for homeowners, gardeners, farmers, and businesses alike to plant native plants to help support local pollinators. Native plants are adapted to our local climate and soil conditions, meaning they require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides to maintain, and they are fantastic habitat and food source for local pollinators. To learn more about, and find a comprehensive list of local native plants, check out the Lower Shore Land Trust’s 2021 native plant guide.

Bats are a lesser-known pollinator that provide many ecological services such as pest consumption and seed dispersal, along with pollination. To learn more about these often misunderstood creatures, check out Bat Conservation International’s Bat 101.

To learn more about the process of pollination in general, and its importance, click here: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/importance.shtml