Help survey bumblebees
Endangered Western Bumblebee
A surprising discovery in a patch of native lupine in my backyard.
Be a citizen scientist
Gosh the news is never-ending sad. Women’s rights: gone. Climate change: ignored. Thankfully, I’ve found a solution to this terrible feeling of helplessness: Look for bumble bees! I can help bumble bees by signing up to survey them! How cool is that?
We all know that honey bees are in decline, but the 30 native bumble bee species in the Pacific Northwest are in decline too. In fact, says the Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas, two species, Franklin’s bumble bee (Bombus franklini) and the rusty-patched bumble bee (B. affinis), may already be on the brink of extinction:
“The causes of these declines are not fully understood, but the following are likely playing a role: loss or fragmentation of habitat, pesticide use, climate change, overgrazing, competition with honey bees, low genetic diversity, and perhaps most significant of all, the introduction and distribution of pathogens through commercial pollinators.
“Regardless of the ultimate cause of bumble bee declines, protecting existing habitat and creating and maintaining new habitat are some of the most immediate and productive steps that can be taken to conserve these important pollinators.”
This year’s Bumble Bee Atlas Survey will focus on declining species. You and I can help out as community scientists. Now I’d never consider myself to be a “scientist” but I can follow directions, and I’m really good at looking at wildflowers and bees, so I’m in. I was nervous about netting the bees, but luckily our little farmers market has a Washington Native Bee Society table—I asked for help and got a demo. Now I’m ready.
If I can survey bumble bees, you can too! To take the training and “adopt” an area to survey, go to: Bumble Bee Atlas and have fun.
If you cannot participate in this year’s survey, how about planting some native wildflowers in your yard? I did, and was graced with the presence of one of our endangered bee species—the Western Bumble Bee. I’m less despairing already.
Take action
Bee survey
If you’re hiking and can get good pictures of bees, use this app to submit them: Bumble Bee Watch. Check out the tips on how to photograph bees, too.
Native plants
Book: Attracting native pollinators, Xerces Society
Plant wildflowers that are truly native to the area. Avoid “wildflower mixes” that don’t identify your area’s native species. Check out: Pacific northwest wildflower seeds