Who are the Pollinators in New York
We hear a lot of conversation these days about the importance of pollinators. These would be the birds and bugs that help transplant pollen from one part of the flower to another.
The National Parks Service's definition of a pollinator is
A pollinator is anything that helps carry pollen from the male part of the flower (stamen) to the female part of the same or another flower (stigma). The movement of pollen must occur for the plant to become fertilized and produce fruits, seeds, and young plants (via NPS.gov)
This week happens to be the week we celebrate all our pollenations. It give us a chance to remember how important they are to our food chain and basic way of life. Birds, bats, bugs, and butterflies are all pollinated and keep the world turning.
SEE Also: Dressel Farm in New Paltz brought in Bee Boxs this Spring
The USDA is also a fan of the local pollinators. It is no secret that without our pollinator our farms would have a hard time. The Bugs and the Butterflies do a great job but when you need a bit more you bring in the Bees.
SEE Also: Bats are our Friends
You may not have thought of the bat as a pollinator but it turns out bats are a complex part of our Hudson Valley eco-system. It may appear that they are just flying around eating insects and that would be partially true.
Hudson Valley Honey Makers
Gallery Credit: Paty Quyn