Great Southeast Pollinator Census getting buzz in Alabama; here’s how you can participate
Today is World Honey Bee Day but what bees and other pollinators should be buzzing about is next week’s Great Southeast Pollinator Census (GSePC).
That buzz is particularly strong in Alabama because this is the first year the state is officially participating in the census.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the Great Southeast Pollinator Census this year,” said Bethany O’Rear, a home horticulture agent with Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Auburn University and the Alabama Census coordinator. “While 2025 is Alabama’s inaugural year to participate, the census has been going on since 2017, and its original goals are still the focus of this fun and exciting project.”
O’Rear noted those goals are:
- Create sustainable pollinator habitats;
- Increase awareness and enhance the general public’s perception of pollinators and their importance; and
- Generate useful data about pollinator population.
Alabama Power has promoted Pollinator Week and has pollinator plots at several locations within The Preserves, its public recreation sites near lakes. It also cultivates pollinator plants along many of its transmission line properties.
Garret Parker, team leader in Shoreline Recreation at Alabama Power, is encouraging participation in the GSePC.
“We’re excited to offer the communities we serve a space to participate in the pollinator census,” Parker said. “This effort is an important part of pollinator conservation and aligns with our commitment to the environment across our state. We hope to see a lot of people come out to these free natural areas on August 22 and 23.”
Here is a video from Pollinator Week in 2022 with some useful information about pollinators and pollinator plots.
GSePC takes place Aug. 22-23 and the public is invited to participate. You can learn more about participation, download printable counting sheets and certificates, review an insect identification guide and more at GSePC.org. You can also share your photos and follow along at the GSePC Facebook page.
Between now on then, those wishing to participate should pay attention to plants pollinators prefer. Select one such plant to observe for 15 minutes on Aug. 22 or 23.
During the observation, use the counting sheet to tally the number of times a pollinator lands on the plant. If the same insect lights more than once, count each landing as an observation. Divide data into eight categories: butterflies or moths, bumble bees, honeybees, small bees, carpenter bees, wasps, flies and other insects. Participants will then submit the data to the Great Southeastern Pollinator Census online at gsepc.org.
“This is such a quick and easy way to be a citizen scientist, and it’s a really fun activity for families or students in a classroom,” O’Rear said. “We encourage everyone to take some time out of their day and enjoy being surrounded by nature during the census.”
Created by the University of Georgia and spearheaded by the University of Georgia Extension Office, the Census this year includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Officials are hoping for a strong showing in Alabama’s first year of participation.
“With everyone’s help, we can put Alabama on the GSePC map,” O’Rear said.
Read more about pollinators and pollinator plots: