SANFORD, N.C. — There is a new citizen science program for North Carolinians: the Great Southeast Pollinator Census. This program is for everyone, from homeowners to students to governments to businesses, and the goal is to get a snapshot of what pollinators are present across the state of North Carolina! The Census was started by Dr. Becky Griffin at UGA Extension in 2019 and it has expanded across Georgia, into South Carolina and now to North Carolina for the first time in 2023!
The Great Southeast Pollinator Census team is holding a webinar on Wednesday, June 7, to share how citizen scientists can participate in the 2023 Census! The Census can be done at a school or park, on a patio full of pollinator plants, a local community or botanic garden. Wherever someone can sit and watch a plant for 15 minutes, the Census can be done! There are easy ways to participate for all!
To register for the webinar and learn more, visit: https://go.ncsu.edu/
Unlike iNaturalist or Bumble Bee Watch or Monarch Watch, this is a one-time contribution type program where citizen scientists of all ages and types observe pollinators once during a two-day sampling period. This narrow, structured window allows scientists to see a concentrated snapshot in time across a wide geographic area. There are ways for teachers to adapt the Census into their classroom lessons across many different subjects, from writing to math to science. The Census website has ready-made activities ready to go! The data sheets are in English and Spanish, as well.
The goal is to have participation from across the state in many different sectors, from schools to governments to businesses to give a broad picture of what pollinators are present everywhere we can observe them as humans. There are so many ways to participate in the Census that can meet the needs of the communities across the state.
–Amanda Wilkins, NC Cooperative Extension- Lee County Center