Dupage Policy Journal

Nature enthusiasts are invited to join the "Pollinators of DuPage" Bioblitz from August 20 to 28 in DuPage parks, forest preserves, open spaces, and gardens. The event is co-hosted by the DuPage Forest Preserve District and other members of the DuPage Monarch Project.

Participants are encouraged to take photos of pollinators such as hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, moths, and beetles within DuPage County during the specified dates and upload them to the iNaturalist app. Ecologists with the DuPage Monarch Project will review these images to better understand local pollinator activity.

“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.”

Morris also highlighted threats faced by native pollinators due to habitat loss, invasive species, and insecticides. More than half of native bee species have declining populations. An online list shows their status and geographic range, with nearly one in four at increased risk of extinction according to the Center for Biological Diversity.

The bioblitz aims to gather data on pollinators found in DuPage County. This information will support conservation policies and help evaluate their impact on monarch butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.

The event underscores a commitment to connecting people with nature while promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all activities.