INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBSERVING POLLINATORS
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Pick up an observation card located at each plot, print out an observation form, or use our online observation form.
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Use the map of flower beds to choose your observation site. Be sure to note the Plot ID for the location you are visiting.
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On a day that is not too cold, rainy or too windy, go to your observation site and sit so as not to cast a shadow over the plants in the flower bed.
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Choose a single type of flowering plant to observe. Note the kind of plant (if you know it) and the flower color.
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Watch the flowers within a 5-inch by 7-inch area (about the size of half a piece of copy paper) continuously for 3 minutes. Record any insects that land on the flowers (bee, butterfly, fly or other). If during the 3 minute observation, no insects (or no insects of a particular category) visit the flowers, this is still important data! Record “0” for that observation. Check out our Tips for Identifying Pollinators page before you begin or view the “What pollinator is that?” page to see common local insects you may see during your observation.
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If you have the time to do additional observations, switch to a different type of plant or some flowers in a different area of the flower bed and begin a new observation card.
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Leave observation cards at one of our plot submission boxes, or enter your observations on the Submit or start an observation page. You can record as many different observations as you want. If you do multiple observations, make sure to enter each as a separate submission.
This activity is suitable for those 7 yrs old or older. You must be able to count to 10 and stay seated and focused for 3 or more minutes.