Well done Kirkland for maintaining Community Wildlife Habitat certification by the National Wildlife Federation for 16 years! The Kirkland Community Wildlife Habitat Team (Kirkland Habitat) is a group of volunteers committed to promote wildlife-friendly practices throughout our city.
We appreciate the many residents who value and support the natural environment to which we belong and are responsible for.
Out of concern for the decline of pollinators across North America and throughout the world, this newsletter offers a spotlight on pollinators. Perhaps you'll find some new and helpful information?
One out of every three bites of food we humans eat is produced by the work of pollinators.
Pollinators sustain and enhance a diversity of wildlife food sources, including seeds, fruits, and berries.
Insect pollinators provide a rich food source for insect-eating wildlife. Insects are especially important for feeding young birds. For example, young chickadees cannot develop by consuming seeds; without enough caterpillars to eat, chicks starve to death.
North America is home to 4,000+ native bee species, many of which are more efficient at pollinating native plants than honeybees.
Besides bees, over 100,000 invertebrates are considered pollinators, including butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, and beetles. Some mammals (such as bats), birds, and reptiles are pollinators.
Roughly 14,000 species of moth are found in North America, and more than 150,000 worldwide. As entomologist Doug Tallamy aptly puts it, "For every species of butterfly on the planet, there are 19 species of moth."
Worldwide, over 500 species of flowers rely on bats as their major or exclusive pollinators.
This section includes information from Garden for Wildlife, and National Wildlife Federation.
In addition to concerns about the decline in honeybees that are used to pollinate our crops, let's also consider native bees. Native bees are estimated to pollinate more than 80% of the flowering plants in the world. I recently read a quote: "if you doubt the impact of something small, you haven't met a bee."
Where have native bees gone?
More than 700 species of native bees are in decline across America. According to Biological Diversity, half of those are at risk of extinction. Affected by unpredictable weather, poisoned by toxic pesticides, and displaced by development, native bees are struggling to survive, with fewer and fewer safe places to live.
If we want colorful, blossoming spring and summer seasons to look forward to, we need to focus on making more habitat safe for bees and other pollinators.
How can you help all bees, also other pollinators?
Plan to plant more bee-friendly habitat to help bee populations thrive: Flowers, flowers, flowers.
Plant Native. Native bees are adapted to pollinate native flowering plants. Plant native to encourage native bees with less harmful or no stings! Venomous stings come mainly from non-native honeybees (or from yellow jacket wasps or paper wasps), not from the many species of native bees. Some native bees can sting, but their stings are generally mild and often not painful compared to honeybee stings.
Encourage government agencies to plant more bee-friendly plants on public lands. Even small patches of habitat on roadsides, in public parks, and on city lawns could make a huge difference for bees. Planting bee-friendly habitat is a proven strategy: One example study found that bees and other pollinators thrive in cities and towns when the appropriate kinds of plants are allowed to grow in public gardens and parks.
Dedicate more public land to pollinator habitat to help bees all year round. Public lands are held in trust for the good of all communities, including pollinators. Pollination is often overlooked as an important ecosystem service.
Plan to have a range of flowering plants to support bees and other pollinators through spring, summer, and fall — to provide life cycle resources before winter inactivity.
Purchase organic seeds and plants from trustworthy vendors to ensure they are not treated with pesticide chemicals that will harm or kill caterpillars, bees, or other pollinators that feed off them.
Refrain from using pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides unless as a last resort in a targeted necessity. These chemicals can harm or kill ALL insects, including vital pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and beneficial insects such as ladybugs and dragonflies. The damage continues up the food chain and can throw off ecosystem balance.
Leave leaves. Old summer and autumn leaves lying on the ground provide shelter for bumblebees and protection for underground burrows.
Keep old flower stems standing. Hollow or pithy stems from last season's plants can shelter native solitary bees and other insects through the winter.
Grow potted plants on a balcony or deck to provide pollen and/or nectar for bees and other pollinators.
Provide water. Bees and other insect pollinators need safe places to drink. Most insects can't swim; they drown in deep water, and chemicals poison them. A shallow dish with pebbles in water (but not covered with water) gives bees, butterflies, and other pollinators a chance to drink safely while able to stand. Pollinator habitat isn't complete without a safe source of water within the distance range of pollinators.
You might be surprised to learn that mosquitoes play a role in pollination! While we often think of them as pests, male mosquitoes feed only on nectar and transfer pollen from flower to flower just like any other pollinator. In fact, their primary food source is flower nectar, not blood. It's only when a female mosquito is ready to lay eggs that she seeks blood.
By understanding the role of mosquitoes and by choosing smarter pest control methods, we can protect all pollinators and foster a healthier environment for everyone.
We often try to control mosquitoes. Many of the widespread pesticides used to kill mosquitoes are non-selective. This means pesticides don't only target mosquitoes; pesticides harm or kill a wide range of beneficial insects, including:
Bees. Both honeybees and our vital native bee species.
Butterflies and Moths. Including their caterpillars, which are crucial food sources for birds.
Other beneficial insects. Such as ladybugs, dragonflies, and predatory wasps that help control garden pests naturally.
When insecticides are sprayed, they drift beyond the target areas, contaminating gardens, natural habitats, and water sources. This can disrupt entire ecosystems and significantly reduce the populations of the very pollinators we depend on for our food.
Instead of reaching for harmful sprays, consider these pollinator-friendly ways to manage mosquitoes:
Eliminate standing water: Regularly clean bird baths, pet bowls, and clear gutters and other places where water collects and mosquitoes lay their eggs. This is more effective at reducing mosquito populations than spraying to kill the adults!
Attract natural predators: Encourage birds, bats, and dragonflies, which all feed on mosquitoes, by planting native plants that provide them with food and cover.
Use targeted, natural solutions: For personal protection, opt for repellents when outdoors. Wearing long sleeves and long pants are also protective.
Try the Mosquito Bucket Challenge. A bucket with water and straw/grass clippings/old leaves gives mosquitoes a place to breed, then stops them. This works by adding a natural soil bacterium called Bti (found in mosquito dunks) to kill the larvae before they grow up and bite. This method, sometimes called a "bucket of doom" or "mosquito tea," creates an irresistible breeding site and then shuts it down — without harming pollinators, pets, or people. However, it needs a mesh lid or stick for other potentially-trapped critters to escape the bucket.
We're happy to answer questions about Kirkland's Community Wildlife Habitat Program (Kirkland Habitat), and to engage in related discussions using kirklandhabitat@gmail.com. Please forward our newsletter to interested contacts, and notify us of addresses to add to our e-news list.
We wish for you summer pleasures, including the delights of positively connecting with nature.
Your friendly community supporters,
Kirkland Community Wildlife Habitat Team (Kirkland Habitat)Please like or follow us on Facebook
Kirkland's Community Wildlife Habitat Program strives for each person to make our community healthier for people and wildlife.
We encourage residents to certify their properties to show support for wildlife-friendly activities: https://www.nwf.org/certifiedwildlifehabitat
Appreciating and enhancing habitat in Kirkland, which is situated on the ancestral, unceded land of the Puget Sound Salish people; we acknowledge and honor the land with gratitude.
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