You’ve gotten excited about being a Bee Watcher and you want to do more? Here are some other ways you can participate in scientific research on pollinators and pollination.
Fall Activities
Scientists at Discover Life are gathering information about species diversity on goldenrods across the US. Check the website for details – then find some goldenrod and start photographing insects!
Journey North (Monarch migration)
Visit this website to learn more about the fall migration and contribute your sightings to their database.
Spring/Summer Activities
Pick a site, set up your own research project, and inventory the bees over the course of a season.
Monarch Larva Monitoring Project
Volunteers collect long-term data on larval monarch populations and milkweed habitat by counting eggs and caterpillars over the course of the season. The overarching goal of the project is to better understand monarch distribution—how and why monarch populations vary in time and space.
The Great Pollinator Project is allied with the Great Sunflower Project—we use the same data-collecting protocol and the same plant species for observation. You can participate directly in the Great Sunflower Project by visiting their site and signing up.
In April, observe bees visiting the spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) to help researchers find out more about which species pollinate this native spring wildflower.
Help conservationists learn more about bumble bee nesting behavior. If you find a nest, fill out the survey at the link above.
North American Butterfly Association Fourth July Butterfly Count
This annual butterfly count is part of an ongoing, nationwide project of the North American Butterfly Association. One day each summer, participants count all the butterflies they can find within a given search area. Check the website to find a count area in the New York metropolitan region.
