In this news short, Emily discusses the final population numbers of Western Monarchs counted at the California overwintering sites by the Xerces Society and Western Monarch Count. The reported number is the second lowest recorded after 2020. So how did this happen and what can we do about it?

The eastern population count should be reported near the end of February according to Monarch Watch.

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/beesandreveryradio

Xerces Society Press Release: https://xerces.org/press/western-monarch-butterfly-population-declines-to-near-record-low

Xerces Society Letter (WILL UPDATE LINK WHEN AVAILABLE): https://westernmonarchcount.org/monarchs-and-the-endangered-species-act/

USFWS Monarch Page: https://www.fws.gov/species/monarch-danaus-plexippus

Western Monarch Count: https://westernmonarchcount.org/

A few of our listeners have asked us to share a little more about ourselves: who we are, our backgrounds, why we care about this stuff so much, and our biggest hopes for this podcast. In this episode, LaDawna asks Emily some questions so we can learn more about Emily.

MONARCH RESOURCES

https://emilywayland.com/resources

In this news short, LaDawna explains the potential effects of President Donald Trump's "Energy Emergency" Executive order and what that could mean for the Endangered Species Act, including for the beloved Monarch Butterfly that was recently proposed for ESA protections and is currently in the public comment period of the legal process.

Read the executive order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/declaring-a-national-energy-emergency/

USFWS Monarch site: https://www.fws.gov/species/monarch-danaus-plexippus

Our linktree: https://linktr.ee/beesandreveryradio

In this episode LaDawna talks about why you may want to add common herbs to your pollinator garden, like chives or parsley, how some common cooking herbs can help pollinators, and some considerations before doing so.

In this episode, Emily and Donna discuss what it takes to create and manage your own pollinator habitat whether it is on a balcony in containers or in your own yard.

Resources

• pollinator.org/guides (guides per ecoregion)

• Find Your Roots-US: https://www.pollinator.org/find-your-roots-tool

• pollinator.org garden recipe cards

• National Wildlife Foundation native plant finder online https://nativeplantfinder.nwf.org/

• Audubon native plant finder online https://www.audubon.org/plantsforbirds

• Homegrown National Park Keystone plant guides https://homegrownnationalpark.org/keystone-plant-guides/

• Also you can confirm range maps for specific species if you have the exact species name at www.BONAP.org

Recommendations

• Doug Tallamy: Nature’s Best Hope (book and lectures)

• Pollinator.org

• Wild Ones-join local chapter, lots of benefits including discounts at local nurseries

• Find local native plant societies

• https://gardenforwildlife.com/ (NWF)--also has a shop

• Homegrown National Park

In this first episode of season one, Emily and Donna discuss why there’s so much new interest these days in native plants and pollinator gardens and the difference that they can make, acouple easy ways to get started, and some of the best free resources to find what plants are native where you live.

National Wildlife Foundation native plant finder online https://nativeplantfinder.nwf.org/

Audubon native plant finder online https://www.audubon.org/plantsforbirds

Homegrown National Park Keystone plant guides https://homegrownnationalpark.org/keystone-plant-guides/

www.BONAP.org

In this very first episode of Bees and Revery Radio, you will meet co-hosts Emily Wayland and LaDawna Howard and discover what this show is all about.

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