Pollinator Census

Difficulty: 1/5 (5 most difficult)

Distance: 1 mile

Join Trish Schranck, the Engagement Coordinator for CREW Trust, for a morning of citizen science as we document the pollinators at CREW Flint Pen Strand Trails! Starting at the Lakes Parking Lot, we will conduct five, 15-minute observations of the different butterflies, bees, beetles, and others utilizing flowering plants along a pollinator-rich section of the White Trail. This event is a part of the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, and our findings will help bolster scientists' understanding of pollinator populations in SWFL and beyond!

Photographers with macro lenses are highly encouraged to attend!

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Pollinators like bees, butterflies, wasps, beetles, and flies are vital to our environment. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3/4s of the world’s flowering plants and about 35% of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce - an estimated 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat!

However, declining pollinator populations are causing concern among scientists about the continued survival of these crucial critters and the ecosystems they support. Pollinator declines can lead to a loss of pollination services, which could significantly affect wild plant diversity, ecosystem stability, crop production, food security, and human welfare.

By conducting a pollinator census at CREW, we're documenting our local pollinator populations and sharing our data with pollinator scientists at the University of Georgia to help them track changes in pollinator populations across the entire southeastern US! WOO!

To learn more about pollinators and how you can support their survival in your own yard, visit https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/general-information/initiatives-and-highlighted-programs/peoples-garden/importance-pollinators

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The CREW Pollinator Census is a part of the first ever Great Florida Pollinator Census in Collier/Lee Counties! Our SWFL project is part of the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, a fun and impactful citizen science effort led by the University of Georgia and supported locally by the Collier County UF/IFAS Extension and Friends of Collier County Butterflies

Info: This is the time to sign your liability waiver, use the restroom, apply sunscreen, and ensure you have everything you need. Participants are required to sign CREW Trust's liability waiver.

Info: A brief introduction to CREW, key safety reminders, and guidance on data collection protocol will be provided

Info: The main event! We will conduct five, 15-minute observations along 0.5 mi of a pollinator-rich section of the White Trail. During each observation, we will observe a single flowering plant and record all the pollinators that utilize that plant. This process will be conducted at 5 set locations along the trail.

Host or Publisher CREW Land & Water Trust