Texas Pollinator BioBlitz: Week 2!

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sent this bulletin at 10/11/2019 09:00 AM CDT

2019 Pollinator BioBlitz – Planting for Pollinators

Welcome to week 2 of the 4th Annual Texas Pollinator BioBlitz!

One great way to help pollinators is to create gardens with native flowering plants. Native plants are sometimes difficult to find, so we gathered some native plant sales to share:

Oct. 18-19: Austin – Native Plant Sale at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Oct. 19: Lake Jackson – Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Native Plant Sale (nursery open year-round)
Oct. 19: San Marcos – Monarch Fest! & Native Plant Sale
Oct. 25-26: Houston – Houston Arboretum and Nature Center Fall Plant Sale
Oct. 26: Dallas – The Dallas Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas plant sale
Oct. 26: Glen Rose – Native Plant Society of Texas' Prairie Rose Chapter plant sale
Nov. 2: New Braunfels – The Monarch Fall Festival's plant sale

To find more nurseries, seed companies, and landscapers, visit the Native Plant Suppliers Directory for Texas list from Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Take a Daily Challenge

While you can take photos and videos of any and all pollinators you see every day of the Pollinator BioBlitz (and we hope you do!), there is also a list of daily challenges to provide you with photographic inspiration along the way, should you need it.

We list two challenges per day, but don't let the term "daily" limit you. If you find one of these challenges on a different day, post it when you see it! Post as many photos as you wish!

Pollinator Information Corner

Create pollinator-friendly plant lists by region with this tool from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Learn all about pollinators, flowering plants and more from the USDA Forest Service's Pollinators page.
Journey North's Monarch Update shows that the Monarchs have been moving into Texas this week!
Bees and butterflies aren't the only pollinators around – learn about 7 other insect pollinators you might see.

Pollinator BioBlitz – How to Participate

Observe: Be on the lookout for pollinators. Learn more about pollinators online and photograph pollinators you see.

Find Events: Use our calendar to find pollinator events near you!

Spread the Word: Share the importance of pollinators by posting your images to Instagram and/or Facebook (#TXPollinators).

Contribute to Science: Post your images of pollinators and flowering plants to iNaturalist from Oct. 4-20 to be automatically included in the 2019 Texas Pollinator BioBlitz project.

Join the iNaturalist project to follow along with what is being seen around the state. Attempt to identify your pollinator to any level you feel comfortable (general name, species name, etc.). Biologists will often help verify or identify your submissions. You can also use the "view suggestions" option under "What did you see?" and iNaturalist will offer possible options for your image.