June 21, 2024 | View as Webpage

Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis) on white flowers

The Mountain States Bumble Bee Atlas Has Begun!

The Mountain States Bumble Bee Atlas (BBA) has officially begun! This project, funded by the Bureau of Land Management, covers the states of Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Volunteers will be conducting the first field season surveys starting now until the end of August.

Meet the Mountain States BBA Coordinator!

Hi! My name is Amy Dolan and I am the new coordinator for the Mountain States Bumble Bee Atlas. I’m excited to look for bumble bees in Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming with you!

My background is in education and entomology. In 2016, I got my Master’s degree in Entomology from Montana State University where one part of my research focused on the bumble bees of Montana. For the past 7 years I have been teaching middle school science in Caldwell, Idaho and working as a volunteer entomology curator at the Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History at the College of Idaho. I also have been coordinating a volunteer-based Idaho Bee Atlas in collaboration with Oregon State University.

I recently moved to Grand Junction, CO, which will be my home base for the Mountain States Bumble Bee Atlas.

You can contact me at mtnstatesbba@xerces.org

How does the atlas work?

Community scientists, like yourself, spread out across the four-state region to survey for bumble bees and report what you find! Survey methods are catch-and-release, so no bees are harmed. All we need are your photographs and data — no bee identification experience is necessary and data sheets are provided!

Training videos, FAQs, and other resources are available on the Bumble Bee Atlas website. In addition, in-person workshops (all-day, comprehensive trainings) and field trainings (shorter events focused on hands-on experience) are being organized across the region.

Learn more at the Bumble Bee Atlas Website

Are you ready to volunteer?

Everything you need to become a Bumble Bee Atlas volunteer can be found on the Bumble Bee Atlas website.

You will need to:

Watch the training webinar on the Xerces YouTube channel. This webinar reviews information about bumble bee ecology and conservation and teaches Xerces protocols for conducting an atlas survey.
Create an account on Bumble Bee Watch if you don't already have one. This is where you will upload data and photos after completing a survey.
Adopt a grid cell. Our four-state region has been divided into 372 grid cells. You get to choose a specific location within your adopted grid cell for your two 2024 surveys.
Gather the equipment needed for a survey. You'll need an insect net, vials, camera, cooler with ice, BBA data sheets, and a pencil.
Head out to your chosen grid cell at least twice this summer and have fun looking for bees!
Upload the data from your surveys and your high-quality photos to Bumble Bee Watch.
(Optional) Attend one of the in-person workshops or field trainings that will be scheduled throughout the summer. Keep an eye on the BBA Events Page for more information.

Live Online Q&A Session: Thursday, June 27

Please join us for an informal online Q&A session on Thursday, June 27, at 5:30pm MDT. This Zoom meeting is a chance for you to meet Amy and get answers to your questions in real time. Please register in advance if you plan to attend so we know who to expect.

Upcoming Events

Mountain States Bumble Bee Atlas Q&A

Thursday, July 27, 5:30-6:30pm

Please join us for an informal Q&A session to meet Amy, hear goals for this summer, and get your questions answered.

In-Person Workshops & Field Trainings

Coming Soon! Watch the Bumble Bee Atlas Events Page and future newsletters for more information.

Click the button below to browse all of our Bumble Bee Atlas events to find trainings, field days, and other events nearby and online.

All Events

Contact:

mtnstatesbba@xerces.org

971.517.3097

Learn more:

bumblebeeatlas.org

The Bumble Bee Atlas is a Xerces Society initiative in collaboration with diverse partners and funders.

The Xerces Society is a donor-supported nonprofit organization that protects our world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats.

Your tax-deductible donation will help grow and sustain that essential work.

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Photo credits from top, left: Rich Hatfield/Xerces Society