Bumble Bee Atlas Field Training, Whittier

Join Bryan Tompkins of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for this fun training to learn the in’s-and-out’s of bumble bee identification. This event supports the Bumble Bee Atlas, a community science program focused on gathering crucial data to monitor and conserve bumble bees. North America is home to around 50 bumble bee species, and unfortunately research has shown that these important pollinators are in trouble and face uncertain futures. However, the exact causes of their declines and how to support them is not fully understood. By participating in this training and contributing data to the Bumble Bee Atlas, attendees will help scientists figure out which habitats are most important to bumble bees and what further questions need to be answered.

During this event, participants will learn how to catch, photograph, and identify bumble bees in the field. We will search the site for bumble bees and learn how to tell them apart from other bees. We hope to find a few of our common species to show you, but we could find a few species of conservation interest as well. The Blue Ridge Mountain region has the greatest diversity of bumble bees in the Southeast, so we need all the help we can get to document where they occur and what habitats and plants they are using!

We will meet just before 11:00am on Saturday, July 11th at the top of Conleys Creek Rd near Whittier, see the exact location below. This site is best accessed with an AWD or 4WD vehicle due to the condition of the road. Please note that to access this location, participants will need to forge a small creek. Water is generally less than one foot deep, and a passenger car with moderate clearance such as a Subaru can handle this crossing with no issues. Continue on Conoleys Creek Rd until you see the “Mainspring Event” sign and a staff member. The event formally concludes at 1:00pm, but participants are welcome to stay later to continue learning if they are interested.