Nature's Calendar
Phenology is recording the signs of the changing seasons, from leaf buds bursting to birds arriving, bees pollinating, wild fruit ripening and leaves dying.
Join the Global Pollination Collective
People need bees and bees need people
Green backyards and gardens can be vital resources for bees. Growing native flowers and leaving weeds to develop can contribute to bee health and numbers by providing food and shelter. Reducing landscaping activities, such as mowing or pruning, can help bees by increasing the amount of vegetation available.
Nonscientists and volunteers can contribute to research through citizen science initiatives, where people report what they see in their local area. This can help experts understand what is happening in a particular area.
In the 2007 Great Pollinator Project, a partnership in New York encouraged members of the public to watch bees and record the types of wildflowers they visited. Such findings help scientists find useful ways to protect bees. However, this depends on people being able to identify species correctly. Therefore, learning about bee species and habits can also help individuals protect them by finding a pathway to participate in community wildlife conservation schemes.
Experiments with Helleborus