A Bumble Bee Count app for your phone or device will make it easy to participate in the third annual Great Canadian Bumble Bee Count.
The bee count takes place during July and August, when bumble bees are most active. Bee spotters from across Canada help an organization called Friends of the Earth (FOE) learn more about wild, native bumble bees.
Their website explains that just like a government census to know what’s happening with families and jobs, a bumble bee census is an important part of understanding bee populations and potentially helping preserve these necessary creatures.
FOE says that more information is needed about wild, native bees in Canada, and what scientists do know is worrying.
40 species
By taking part, you’ll learn about over 40 species of Canada’s bumble bees and ways you can help them.
You can upload photos through the online form to submit your sightings.
“Last year we (FOE) received more than 2,500 beautiful photos and descriptions of bumble bees from all across the country,” said Beatrice Olivastri, CEO Friends of the Earth Canada. “With the launch of our new Bumble Bee Count app we’re hoping to receive even more in 2018.”
More than two-thirds of the food crops we depend on benefit from pollination by native bees, honey bees and other pollinators.
Bumble bees are especially important - they are particularly effective pollinators for certain crops and flowers including blueberries and tomatoes.
Help protect bees
FOE works with scientists who will use the submissions and observations in their work to assess how best to protect and support wild, native bees.
“Bees are facing the same climate challenges you and I face – from heat waves to fires and floods,” says Olivastri.
“Add that to exposure to pesticides, habitat loss and pathogen spillover from domesticated bumble bees and Canada’s wild bees are under growing pressures to just survive.”
For 2018, FOE is focusing on education; submitted photos and observations will be used in new educational projects.
The online form can be found online at FOECanada.org
