Celebrating Pollinator Month: York County Parks & Recreation hosting "BioBlitz"

Beginning Saturday, September 12, York County Parks & Recreation is hosting an eight-day BioBlitz campaign at New Quarter Park, 1000 Lakeshead Drive, Williamsburg. As part of the National Parks for Pollinators campaign hosted by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), the BioBlitz is aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of pollinators and positioning parks as national leaders in advancing pollinator health. The BioBlitz lasts through Sunday, September 20.

In celebration of pollinators, the public is invited to attend this event and work alongside park staff to advance the health of local pollinators.  Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app onto their smart phones prior to coming to the park. Print outs on the goals of the BioBlitz, a park map, and demonstrations on how to use the app are available at the park office and online at www.yorkcounty.gov/parksandrec.

To make the event even more fun, consider sharing your photos of the pollinators you see with the York County Beautification Committee's “Beautiful York County Calendar Art Contest.”  Details are available online at www.yorkcounty.gov/contest. Submission deadline is October 1, 2020.

Pollinators are a vital component of our ecosystem, and an essential link to the world’s food supply. According to the White House’s Pollinators Health Task Force, during the last 30 years, the United States has seen a steady decline of pollinators (such as bees, bats and butterflies) at an alarming rate of 30 percent annually - making it vital to take action on pollinator protection.

A 2018 poll conducted by NRPA indicated that a majority of those polled in the United States agree that promoting pollinator health should be a conservation priority. Promoting pollinator health includes protecting against the decline and death of pollinators, such as honey bees and other insects, and increasing their habitat.

To learn more about Parks for Pollinators, visit www.nrpa.org/parks4pollinators. 
To learn more about the BioBlitz, call (757) 890-5840 or visit www.yorkcounty.gov/parksandrec, select “Parks & Facilities” and then “New Quarter Park.”