|
Happy May!
Hopefully you're starting to see some plants in bloom, bumble bee queens buzzing around, or at least some fresh green growth if you're up north! We've been busy preparing for the second survey season, which believe it or not is only one month away, and we have a few updates to share with you.
Survey Season Begins June 1: You're welcome to survey your same grid, there is no need to re-adopt your cell. If you want to survey more locations than last year, you're welcome to adopt additional grid cells. To help you in your efforts, here are a few reminders:
- Conduct a minimum of two surveys in your adopted grid cell anytime between June 1st - September 30th.
-
Make sure you have the appropriate permits, refer to the permit section here.
-
You can conduct Point Surveys and/or Roadside Surveys within your grid.
- Ideal weather conditions: 60-90* F; Winds <15-20mph; No rain
- Check road and weather conditions before traveling to your survey location.
-
Submit your data online, even if you observed 0 bumble bees during a survey.
-
You can find the participant handbook, datasheets, identification guides, survey planning resources, collection supplies and more in the online training packet.
-
There is a whole community of volunteers sharing photos, stories, and techniques on our Facebook group. Join the conversation!
Wash Your Equipment: Bumble bees face many threats, from habitat loss and pesticides, to climate change and pathogens. We don't want to be a vector for those pathogens, so please follow best practices to clean equipment between surveys. On your vials, and ideally your nets use one of these methods:
- 10% bleach solution, rinse, air dry
- Alcohol (70%) or hydrogen peroxide spray (or wipes), air dry
- Hot soapy water, manually scrub, rinse, air dry
Training Events: The online training sessions are underway, see below for recordings and registration details. We are still working on in-person field trainings, but will share a schedule out via this email list and our social media channels when finalized (@bumblebeeatlas on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook).
| 
