News Release
Visitors Invited to Join 'Pollinators of DuPage' Bioblitz Aug. 20 – 28
Local event co-hosted by members of the DuPage Monarch Project
Nature fans are invited to grab their smartphone and help catalog the bees and butterflies for the “Pollinators of DuPage” Bioblitz Aug. 20 – 28 in DuPage parks, forest preserves, open spaces, and gardens.
The DuPage Forest Preserve District and other members of the DuPage Monarch Project invite nature fans to discover the butterflies and bees in their neighborhood to raise awareness of these important animals.
To participate, people simply take photos Aug. 20 – 28 of any pollinators they see — hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, etc. — anywhere in DuPage County and upload them to the iNaturalist app. Ecologists with the DuPage Monarch Project will then review the images to get a better idea of what’s going on in wild DuPage.
“About 75% of the planet’s 250,000 species of flowering plants could not produce seeds or fruits without animal pollinators,” said Lonnie Morris, coordinator of the DuPage Monarch Project. “In fact, researchers estimate that one in every three bites of food we eat exists because of them.
“But our native pollinators face threats from habitat loss, invasive species and insecticides,” Morris said.
Among native bee species, more than half have declining populations. An online list of these bees shows their status and geographic range. Nearly one in four is at increased risk of extinction, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.
The DuPage Monarch Project bioblitz focuses on pollinators found in DuPage County. The data creates a foundation for conservation policies and evaluating their effect on monarch butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
To participate:
- Download the iNaturalist app on your smartphone and create an account. Make sure to let the app use your location so it can record where you take each photo.
- Join the Pollinators of DuPage County Bioblitz team on the iNaturalist app.
- When you’re ready, select “Observe” under the camera icon at the bottom, and snap your photos.
- Select “Next” and then “Share.” Once your photo uploads, you’re done, or you can share more!
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