Minimum Requirements to Participate

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Xerces Society have partnered to support bumble bee conservation in a  statewide project to collaborate with community scientists and collect current information on bumble bee species distribution. The missing partner is you - become a community scientist and join us! The state of Nebraska is large, rural and wild, meaning professional scientists can only reach so many places. But, with your help we can recruit an army of trained volunteers armed equipped with simple tools and knowledge to collect data. Then, we can cover the entire state quickly, collect scientific quality data, and contribute to the global understanding of bumble bee distributions.

Our ask is pretty simple:

1. Familiarize yourself with our project protocols and procedures. You can do this by attending a training - there are in person events, as well as online options, or reading through the material online. Once our webinar has occurred, the training will be available to watch any time. You'll find the link on our resources page (starting in August 2019).
2. Create a Bumble Bee Watch account
3. Adopt a grid cell - you can do this alone, or with a group of friends or family (Bumble Bee Watching is more fun with friends!).
4. Visit any location within that grid cell two times during the bumble bee season and use our standardized protocol to sample for bumble bees.
5. Submit your data to Bumble Bee Watch online, or using our iOS mobile app.

What you will need to participate:

1. A curiosity for insects and flowers.
2. Transportation to your grid cell (or choose an area in which you live or work).
3. A smartphone or camera to take high quality pictures.
4. Access to a computer or smart phone where you can upload photos to Bumble Bee Watch and track your progress.

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What is helpful to participate:

1. An insect net and vials (glass jars from home work well).
2. Basic knowledge of wildflower identification and where to find them!
3. Local plant identification field guides
4. Bumble Bees of North America