Pollinators

Due to the mapping process, an address is necessary. If preferred,  a more general area can be provided such as a cross street. Email your photo and the cross street to gis@georgina.ca. Make sure you note that the information is to be added to the pollinator map. 

Addresses will not be listed on the map, see the Town’s privacy statement for more information. 

Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, birds and other insects, play a crucial role in the reproduction of flowering plants, including many of the fruits, vegetables and nuts that humans rely on for nutrition. Without pollinators, the food system would suffer and ecosystems would be greatly disrupted.

Pollinators face several threats, largely due to human activities:

• Habitat loss: Transforming natural areas into farms, cities and other developments reduces and fragments the spaces where pollinators can live, feed and reproduce.
• Pesticide use: Insecticides, herbicides and fungicides can kill or harm pollinators directly, or indirectly by contaminating their food and disrupting their life cycles.
• Climate change: Shifts in weather and seasons can upset the timing and relationships between plants and pollinators and alter where pollinators can live.
• Disease and parasites: Illnesses and pests, like colony collapse disorder in bees or Varroa mites, weaken pollinators' health and reduce their numbers.
• Invasive species: Non-native plants can take over, pushing out the native plants that pollinators depend on for food and shelter.

• Plant variety: Create bee-friendly habitats by growing native flowers, herbs and plants in your garden or on your balcony, ensuring blooms throughout all seasons to provide continuous food for bees.
• Avoid pesticides and herbicides: Avoid pesticides and herbicides as they harm pollinators. Instead, opt for organic gardening practices instead to keep bees safe.
• Provide nesting sites: Offer a range of nesting options, like bare soil, bee hotels and natural habitats, to accommodate different pollinator species.
• Leave the leaves: Allow fallen leaves to stay in your garden. They offer shelter and food to pollinators, enriching your garden's ecosystem.
• Advocate for bees: Support policies and initiatives that protect pollinators. Engage in community gardening projects and educate others on the importance of pollinators.
• Get involved in community efforts to create pollinator-friendly gardens educate others about the importance of pollinators and raise awareness about threats facing bee populations. These actions can significantly support pollinator health and contribute to the preservation of these vital creatures. 

Are you looking to harvest and save your seeds to help pollinators next spring? After your wildflowers have dried, here's how to save the seeds for next season.

• Trim the dried flower heads and let them dry further.
• Take seeds and lay on waxed paper for a week.
• Clean and remove husks or pods.
• Store seeds in labelled paper bags in a cool, dark place or fridge.

Bee City Canada is an organization focused on encouraging communities to become champions for pollinators. Bee City Canada is made up of researchers, educators, beekeepers, farmers, ecologists, community leaders and other committed individuals across Canada. Bee City Canada strives to help all Canadians understand the close connection with pollinators and their critical link to the health of the planet. Their goal is to give direction and encourage communities to take action to protect pollinators. For more information on Bee City initiatives, visit beecitycanada.org.