Bees and Butterflies
Pollinate 90% of the
World's flowering plants.
1 out of 3 bites of food
you eat is due to a
Pollinator.
Operation Pollinator Rescue
The Adirondack Wildlife Refuge and SkyLyfeADk are collaborating to implement an extensive pollinator project we have named Operation Pollinator Rescue. The objective of this project is to educate the public on the global importance of our suffering pollinators. Through leadership and education, we hope to build a love for some of the World’s most important creatures. We will offer an array of fun and interactive programs developed to share in the amazing lives of pollinators. Join us for our weekly pollinator adventure. This year we will feature a Butterfly house with a small admission fee, where visitors can have an up-close view of all stages of butterfly life. Grand Opening for the butterfly house will be June 18,2020 and continue every Thursday, Friday and Saturday throughout the Summer. We also reach out to make a positive impact on local pollinator populations as well as replacing vital habitat that support the pollinators here in the Adirondacks.
Our pollinator project initiatives are to save at least 1500 monarchs from habitat destruction and release healthy butterflies weekly back into the dwindling wild population. Habitat loss is one of the greatest issues facing these little life keepers. We will be replacing lost habitat through the planting of beds with wild flowers that provide a large nectar source along with 50,000 milkweeds seeds. We would like to invite the public to join us in planting the milkweed seeds in our Butterfly sanctuary that provides food and shelter for many pollinators. Seed Packets will be available on site this Spring. These plants help to build a chain of gardens North to South for migrating pollinators and makes a drastic difference in how many pollinators make the full journey South. We will be part of a disease monitoring system that contains scientific data on local populations, climate and disease statistics. We will be registering as a Monarch waystation and will tag at least 200 Monarchs to help track the location in which monarchs from the Adirondacks choose for a final Winter resting ground. We will also have available 250 native bee habitats to get the public involved in boosting local populations.
Take a little time this season to visit The Adirondack Wildlife Refuge http://adirondackwildlife.org/ and SkyLyfeADK and be part of making a real change.
This project is a large undertaking and we could always use your support. Whether it be a Monetary donation or a donation of a plant/flower for inside or around our 30 ft. long butterfly house. Together we can make a difference. Please email us for a list of pollinator friendly plants/flowers if you would like to donate a plant/flower. Thank you for loving the Little Things!
Monarch life Cycle
The egg hatches in about 4 days. The caterpillar then eats milkweed for 2 weeks. The caterpillar is inside the Chrysalis for about 10 days then hatches as a Butterfly. An adult butterfly lives 2 - 6 weeks.
Monarch Migration
Monarch Butterflies take five generations to complete a migration cycle. During their migration they stop millions of times to eat, pollinating the entire time.
Finish Line
Hundreds of millions of Monarch Butterflies journey up to 3000 miles each year from the United States to their Wintering grounds in Mexico.
Honey Bee Life Cycle
The Honey Bee emerges with a purpose and goes directly to work. It will spend every minute of its life, 4-5 months working continuously.
World's Hardest Workers
Bees are the largest contributing Pollinators. Honey Bees transfer pollen between 5 thousand flowers a day per Worker Bee.
The Big Pay Off
In order to produce 1 pound of Honey, 2 million flowers are visited. A hive can produce up to 100 pounds of Honey in a year.