Join us on Saturday, June 17, 2017 for the third annual BeeBlitz!
Mark your calendar for the third annual BeeBlitz during National Pollinator Week. Nature lovers and concerned citizens in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio are invited to get outside and snap pictures of honey & bumble bees on Saturday, June 17th. Then, upload your findings to BeeSpotter, the citizen science project run in collaboration between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Department of Entomology and the Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education.
The name BeeBlitz is derived from a BioBlitz, an activity in which all of the biodiversity in a specific area is examined, to provide a snapshot in time of the flora and fauna present. We want to know what species of honey & bumble bees are seen, and where they are, on the 17th. We encourage veteran and aspiring bee spotters alike to venture out on a nature walk and participate in the blitz.
Events
We have a number of BeeBlitz events scheduled throughout the day for the Champaign-Urbana area:
June 17, 10am-noon: BeeBlitz at the Pollinatarium
Join us at the Pollinatarium (606 W Windsor Rd, Urbana, IL 61801) on June 17, from 10AM – Noon to kick off another National Pollinator Week. We will venture out into the fields surrounding the Pollinatarium and photograph honey & bumble bees, then upload the photos to BeeSpotter. We encourage you to bring your camera or smartphone, though we will have cameras available for those who need one. We will also have computers available so you can upload your spottings immediately, should you wish to do so.
This event is free and open to the public. Feel free to come for the whole time or stop in for only part of the event. We’d love to have you join us, even if only for 20-30 minutes!
June 17, 1pm-3pm: Meadowbrook Park
All ages welcome (under 15 with adult).
A guided expedition through Meadowbrook Park’s Spomer Prairie is departing from the Garden Pavilion (found at the Race Street entrance to Meadowbrook Park) at 1pm. Bring your camera or smartphone and comfortable walking shoes, and be ready for an adventure! Call 217-384-4062 by Friday, June 16 to let us know you are coming.
View an annotated map of Meadowbrook Park (PDF).
Getting involved
You can help us plan by letting us know you’re interested, though you’re welcome to participate even if you don’t sign up in advance.
If you can’t make it to the events we have planned, you can still participate! All you have to do is go outside and take a few bee photos on June 17, and upload them to BeeSpotter. You don’t need to upload them immediately; just be sure to select the correct date when uploading. They will automatically be counted as part of the BeeBlitz collection!
