Have you ever participated in a citizen science program? Now is your chance! This Friday and Saturday, August 23-24, 2024, is the Great Southeast Pollinator Census.
Who is this for? Any resident of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia or Florida. This is a great program for kids!
What is the census? The University of Georgia is collecting data on pollinators. They want to spot trends in pollinator populations, like how weather affects them, or if honey bees disrupt native bees. Another aim for this project is to educate the public on pollinators.
How do I participate? It’s easy! First, go to the Pollinator Census website and download the Counting Sheet. Essentially, you pick a plant that has pollinator activity, and watch the plant for 15 minutes. Count the number of times a pollinator visits the plant and upload your data onto their website. On the website homepage there is a two and a half minute video showing you exactly what to do.
Do I have to be an entomologist? No! There is a helpful pollinator identification guide to help you distinguish between different types of bees, but otherwise they are looking for things like butterflies and other insects, without differentiating between the various kinds of insects.
Where can I find plants with pollinators? If you have some flowers outside of your home, that’s a perfect place to start! A lot of the retention ponds have flowers with lots of pollinators on them. These include Church Street Park pond, the three ponds at the corner of Town Hall Drive and Harris Mill Road, the retention ponds along the Indian Creek Greenway, and the pond at Morrisville Community Park. DO NOT go IN the ponds! Stay safe! Many neighborhoods have a small flower garden in their common areas. The lantana garden at the Grace Point Road and Denmark Manor Drive intersection is full of butterflies. The hill on the Shiloh Greenway between the creek and Everette Fields road is also swarming with pollinator activity. Take a look at any flowers planted in the parks, too.
I’ll be outside counting pollinators on Friday and Saturday. Let me know if you’ll be out there, too!