NYC Parks Department urges public to help bird, insect populations

The NYC Parks Department is taking action to help native birds and bees after they say the pollinators are in dire need of more natural space.

News 12 Staff

Nov 30, 2021, 1:11 PM

Updated 870 days ago

Share:

The NYC Parks Department is taking action to help native birds and bees after they say the pollinators are in dire need of more natural space.
Supporting birds, bugs, and bees all year round is the goal for the park department's Pollinator Place Program. Placing gardens in parks all around New York City can help, and it's something the parks department says it is in desperate need of.
"We are losing many, many species of insects and life on this planet at a rapid pace," says Matthew Morrow, of the NYC Parks Department.
With bird, bee, and insect populations steadily decreasing, the gardens at Calvert Vaux Park in Gravesend use native plants that may be harder for our pollinators to find in the city.
"It's not traditionally thought by most people that we can provide spaces for these insects in our urban landscapes, but we now know that it's entirely possible."
The parks department says residents can help their local pollinators at home too by placing native plants outside.
"Even a small window box outside their window where they want to plant some native grasses or wildflowers that are known to provide seeds to a bee or bird."
You can also find other pollinator places in Brooklyn at McCarren Park and South Oxford Playground.


More from News 12
1:40
Preliminary report uncovers over 100 potential unmarked burials at historic Rye cemetery

Preliminary report uncovers over 100 potential unmarked burials at historic Rye cemetery

2:10
Scattered showers for Friday throughout the Hudson Valley before dry, breezy Saturday

Scattered showers for Friday throughout the Hudson Valley before dry, breezy Saturday

0:12
Police: Woman hurt in Yonkers stabbing

Police: Woman hurt in Yonkers stabbing

0:43
City of Yonkers to run Nepperhan Community Center following financial mismanagement report

City of Yonkers to run Nepperhan Community Center following financial mismanagement report

0:56
Retail prevention plan to include harsher penalties, additional patrols

Retail prevention plan to include harsher penalties, additional patrols

1:47
'Evening in Good Taste' helps feed hungry in Westchester County

'Evening in Good Taste' helps feed hungry in Westchester County

0:45
Authorities: Mahopac man captured sexually explicit images of children with hidden camera

Authorities: Mahopac man captured sexually explicit images of children with hidden camera

0:30
Hearing for New City stabbing suspect rescheduled for next week

Hearing for New City stabbing suspect rescheduled for next week

0:53
Carmel School District closes in on budget agreement following months of debates

Carmel School District closes in on budget agreement following months of debates

0:44
Greenburgh's ex-Parks and Recreation commissioner honored with renaming of multipurpose center

Greenburgh's ex-Parks and Recreation commissioner honored with renaming of multipurpose center

0:37
Virginia man was sentenced to 20 years to life in fatal 2021 shooting of New Rochelle cab driver

Virginia man was sentenced to 20 years to life in fatal 2021 shooting of New Rochelle cab driver

0:34
Westchester DA: Yonkers man sentenced 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for fatal June 2023 hit-and-run

Westchester DA: Yonkers man sentenced 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for fatal June 2023 hit-and-run

0:28
White Plains police: Teenager arrested in connection to stabbing of 17-year-old outside gas station

White Plains police: Teenager arrested in connection to stabbing of 17-year-old outside gas station

1:54
Middletown couple fight through lawsuits, zoning problems to open New Paltz cannabis dispensary

Middletown couple fight through lawsuits, zoning problems to open New Paltz cannabis dispensary

0:41
State budget proposal would consolidate Medicaid program used in hiring home health aide

State budget proposal would consolidate Medicaid program used in hiring home health aide

1:35
Double Up Food Bucks program comes to Yonkers market

Double Up Food Bucks program comes to Yonkers market

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

0:23
Ford recalls over 456,000 Bronco Sport and Maverick cars due to loss of drive power risk

Ford recalls over 456,000 Bronco Sport and Maverick cars due to loss of drive power risk

1:44
Discover a Gothic Revival masterpiece of art and architecture at Lyndhurst Mansion

Discover a Gothic Revival masterpiece of art and architecture at Lyndhurst Mansion

0:51
Save money while helping the planet with these 12 energy-efficient tips

Save money while helping the planet with these 12 energy-efficient tips