A word from the Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator (November 2025)
Recently, while travelling between Hay, Deniliquin and Echuca, I was struck by the golden glow of Billy Buttons blooming across the landscape. These native wildflowers are a seasonal highlight, thriving in our open grasslands, well-drained soils, and under the warm, sunny conditions that have followed recent spring rains.
Their return is more than just a visual delight – it’s a sign that our pollinators are active and busy. Billy Buttons attract a wide range of native pollinators, including bees, butterflies, beetles, flies, and moths, all of which play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting food production.
And the timing couldn’t be better ! It’s Australian Pollinator Week, and the Pollinator Count is on!
Pollinator Count Dates: 8–16 November 2025
How to participate:
- Find a flowering plant
- Set a timer for 2 minutes
- Count every pollinator that visits the flowers
- Submit your results via the Australian Pollinator Count website
To contribute to national data, complete the Learner Guide and quiz on the website first. A score of 80% or higher unlocks the official upload link. You can also use a paper form if you’re offline, just remember to upload your results later.
This citizen science initiative, hosted by the Wheen Bee Foundation, helps researchers track pollinator populations across Australia. Every count contributes to a clearer picture of where pollinators are thriving, and where they need our help.
So whether you’re in your backyard, on the farm, or walking through a roadside reserve, take a moment to join the count. It’s a simple, meaningful way to connect with nature and support the tiny creatures that keep our ecosystems buzzing.
This article was written by Jade Auldist. Jade is the Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator for the Riverina region. Her role supports farmers, industry and community groups (including Landcare Groups) to adopt new and innovative sustainable agriculture practices.
For further information on this article, please contact Jade at jade.auldist@lls.nsw.gov.au.
