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AUGUSTA,
Maine -- The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is seeking volunteers
from the Downeast and Northern areas of Maine to assist in the Maine Bumble Bee
Atlas.
There
still are open spots for the June 10th training session at Houlton
High School. Volunteers are welcome from anywhere in Maine, but this year we
are especially looking for participants from the northern and eastern halves of
the state to fill survey gaps in Aroostook, Washington, Hancock and northern Penobscot
counties.
The
Maine Bumble Bee Atlas is a five-year, statewide survey looking to document the
different species of bumble bees in Maine, their range, and their abundance.
The training session is Saturday, June 10th at the Houlton High
School from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The
workshops is free, and lunch is provided.
Attendees
will be trained in a standardized survey and data collection protocol, and
project staff will give presentations on bumble bee life history, ecology, and
conservation.
Preregistration
is required, as workshop space is limited and open to adults only. You can
pre-register by filling
out and emailing this form (link
to form). Before
you register, please read the “Frequently
Asked Questions” for an explanation of what volunteering
for MBBA entails. If it still sounds like fun, fill out the attached
pre-registration form and return to the MBBA Project Coordinator Beth Swartz
at beth.swartz@maine.gov. A confirmation
email will be sent once your form has been processed.
You
can find out more information at http://mainebumblebeeatlas.umf.maine.edu/announcements/
The
Maine Bumble Bee Atlas, coordinated in
partnership with the University of Maine at Orono and Farmington, is modeled
after MDIFW’s highly successful Maine Butterfly Survey and Maine
Damselfly and Dragonfly Survey, which marshal the efforts of volunteer
citizen scientists from across Maine to increase our knowledge on the status of
the state’s insect fauna. Participants do not need to have prior experience in
surveying for bees – just an interest and willingness to learn and contribute
data to the project.
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