Bombus citrinus - from iNaturalist - (c) trillseek024, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

 Continuing Projects

MEBW has two ongoing projects that we expect will continue, and another is in development.

The ongoing projects are funding the Maine State Beekeepers Association Presidential Outreach Fund and an Entomology graduate student fellowship at the University of Maine’s School of Biology and Ecology.

The first awards of the MSBA fund were made in February 2023.

Our in-development project will involve volunteer community scientists making observations of plant and bee interactions.  The iNaturalist group Pollinator Interactions on Plants (PIP) of the NE US will be the repository of observations.  Pluses include an already functioning group, a persistent data location, and fairly decent computer identification of observations.  Our thanks to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies employees for overseeing the project.

Now, one question: What plant will the first observation from Maine be of?  We’re betting on Pussy Willow.  (Though Speckled Alder wouldn’t surprise us.) 

MEBW’s strong preference is not to reinvent the wheel, so existing platforms like iNaturalist are prized - and what’s better, all our efforts can be promotional.

MEBW welcomes thoughts that help us make this project a reality.  (How we spread the word.)