Pollinators in Peril: How You Can Help From Your Own Backyard
You’ve likely heard the alarm bells ringing by now – native pollinator populations are in steep decline. More than one-fifth of North America’s native pollinators are facing an elevated risk of extinction. And it’s not just here: around the globe, pollinators are vanishing at an alarming rate, threatening the ecosystems and food systems we rely on.
When faced with a crisis this large, it’s easy to feel powerless. How and where does one even begin to make an impact in the face of global species loss?
Well, we’ve found that the best place to start is in our own backyard.
During National Pollinator Week, we’re turning our attention to the tiny but mighty creatures whose survival depends on the everyday choices we make – right here at home.
The Threats Facing Pollinators
The challenges facing pollinators are complex and interconnected. From the loss of native habitat to the widespread use of harmful chemicals, these stressors are pushing many pollinator species toward extinction. Here are a few of the main threats contributing to their decline:
1. Habitat Loss & Development
Habitat loss is one of the biggest reasons for the decline of many pollinator species. According to Mass Audubon’s Losing Ground 2020 report, approximately 13.5 acres of land are lost every day in Massachusetts due to development. For pollinators, this means fewer places to forage, nest and overwinter. Housing developments, roadways, and manicured lawns and just a few examples of the development pressures that negatively impact native vegetation.
2. Invasive Species
Non-native plants and animals can wreak havoc on pollinator populations by crowding out native species and altering the balance of ecosystems. Their aggressive growth can outcompete with native species for resources like sunlight, water and nutrients. As native plants disappear, so do the specialized food sources and nesting habitats that our native pollinators rely on.
3. Climate Change
Climate change intensifies nearly all other threats to pollinators. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns and increased intensity of extreme weather events affect their food sources and habitats, and also makes the places they call home more susceptible to disease and invasive plants that may be more drought resistant or otherwise better suited for changing climate conditions. Climate change also disrupts the timing and availability of flowering plants, causing mismatches between pollinators and their essential food sources.
4. Pesticides
Chemical pesticides, especially neonicotinoids and herbicides like glyphosate, are harmful to both pollinators and the plants they depend on. These chemicals can poison pollinators directly or weaken their immune systems, making them more vulnerable to disease, parasites, and other stressors. Even low doses can impair a pollinator’s ability to navigate, forage, and reproduce.
3 Ways You Can Help Pollinators in Your Community
Despite the challenges pollinators face, there are tangible and meaningful ways each of us can help. Whether you have a backyard, a balcony, or just a window box, your choices can create safe and supportive spaces for pollinators. Here’s how to start:
1. Plant Native
Pollinators are highly specialized and rely on the nectar and pollen of native plants they’ve evolved alongside. The shape, scent and size of native flowers provide important sensory clues and a structure that allows a specific, co-evolved pollinator to contact the flower's anthers and stigmas. For instance, beetle-pollinated flowers tend to be wide and open to offer easy access, while long-tubed flowers in the mint family cater to pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds.
You don’t need acres of space to make a difference – every patch of native vegetation contributes to a larger patchwork of habitat. In western Massachusetts, a number of nurseries sell native plants including Nasami Farm Nursery Native Plant Trust, Checkspot Farm and Helia Native Nursery. For other nurseries across the state, Grow Native Massachusetts is a great resource.
2. Skip the Pesticides
Do what you can to avoid chemical pesticides and herbicides in your yard or garden. These substances can be deadly to pollinators or contaminate the nectar and pollen they feed on. If you do apply chemical herbicides, avoid spraying plants that are actively blooming and/or time your application to avoid daytime hours when pollinators are actively foraging. And make sure to select appropriate chemicals and formulations that are less toxic to bees.
3. Leave It Wild
Neatness isn’t everything! Allowing some areas of your yard to grow wild – with native grasses, flowering weeds, or even fallen logs – creates valuable nesting and overwintering habitat. Solitary bees, for instance, often nest in bare soil or hollow stems, while butterflies may rely on leaf litter to complete their life cycle. “No Mow May” is a movement that’s gained popularity and, as it suggests, encourages folks to leave their lawn mower in the shed for a few more weeks to let tall grasses and native flowers grow in their yard. Better yet? You can extend that mow-free period or leave parts of your backyard mow-free all season long.
What We’re Doing To Help Pollinators Thrive
This past month, Mount Grace planted a pollinator garden outside of our newly constructed conservation barn. The garden will host numerous native plant species that support local pollinators. Located at Skyfields Arboretum, the pollinator garden will provide additional habitat to complement previously completed pollinator work in the adjacent 7.5-acre meadow.
The garden will feature a variety of native shrubs and forbs that play a key role in the life cycle of native pollinators. The plants were chosen to include bloom times across the entire growing season. This will ensure that there is available nectar and pollen for as long as possible.
“A mix of fields and forest age classes always ensures that there are food sources available for our pollinators; whether it’s the red flowers of early blooming Red Maple or late season wildflowers such as New England Aster.”
Across many of the properties we actively manage, we’re looking to find ways to expand early successional habitat to help create more pollinator habitat. “Creating a mix of habitats supports the greatest diversity of wildlife, including pollinators,” says Matt DiBona, Mount Grace’s Director of Land Stewardship. “A mix of fields and forest age classes always ensures that there are food sources available for our pollinators; whether it’s the red flowers of early blooming Red Maple or late season wildflowers such as New England Aster. Active forestry often lets more sunlight reach the forest floor and allows herbs and flowers to flourish. Even places like old log landings and hedgerows present opportunities to enhance habitat for pollinators.”
Support our Pollinator Garden:
If you’re interested in helping us grow our pollinator garden, we invite you to help plant and care for our garden. Our volunteer program offers a range of activities including trail clean-ups, community service, citizen science initiatives, native planting days, and more.
Resources:
- MA pollinator network: https://masspollinatornetwork.org/
- Pollinator Partnership: https://www.pollinator.org/
- The Native Plant Trust: https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/
