Happy World Bee Day! This past December, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 20th to be World Bee Day. Just like Earth Day, though, I don’t see why we don’t just declare it to be World Bee Day every day. As pollinators, bees can be thanked for 1/3 of our world’s crop production. Foods such as blueberries, apples, almonds, avocados, and grapes are among the lengthy list of crops that would be extremely rare or non-existent without the bees responsible for their pollination. Bee colony populations are plummeting and many factors are to blame. Bees are literally disappearing. Worker bees are abandoning their queen and their colony. This phenomenon has been coined as colony collapse disorder.
What are Some of the Factors Leading to Plummeting Bee Populations?
- Pesticides
- Global Warming
- Drought
- Habitat Destruction
- Loss of Nectar Sources
- Deficits in Nutrition
- Diseases and Parasites
- Conventional Farming
I don’t know about where you live, but right now, my yard is just exploding with dandelions! As some people wage a war with toxic chemicals to win the “greenest grass award” on the block, I sit patiently waiting for the bees to have their share before getting out and harvesting some of the flower heads for my son’s favorite Dandelion Cookies. Dandelions are a fantastic first nectar source for bees. Wait to mow and forget those nasty chemicals! It’s a great day to celebrate bees and all they do for us. Happy World Bee Day! Have fun learning about the amazing world of bees with the below video by Animalogic. Know that this video focuses a lot on the honey bee but also discusses native bees and issues threatening both. It’s a good thing to know that there is a difference between agricultural, honey bees and the bees native to your area. Native bees are the bees that need our help the most!
What are Some Things we can ALL do to Help our Bee Friends?
Commit to NOT using Pesticides and other Harmful Chemicals.
You can find great resources on how to get past pesticide use at this link to the Xerces Society. They also have great information on how you can take action by helping to introduce pesticide policies to your local government. These policies can help reduce or ban pesticides used. Xerces Society is a wonderful non-profit to consider donating to if you’re looking to donate to a great organization that protects wildlife through conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. They’re all about saving the bees internationally, and they do wonderful things with research, education, and advocacy for pollinators across the world. You can find out how to donate to the Xerces Society by following this link to Donate Now.
Plant Native Plants that Native Bees Love!
By planting native plants that support the native bees in your area, you’ll be doing a great service. Native bees are affected by habitat loss and the accessibility of nectar sources. They need habitats that support them. What better way to “Bee Friendly” than to get out and plant native vegetation around your yard. Even if you don’t have much space in your yard, there’s a lot you can do in a little amount of space. Have fun with it and do your research! Native plants are really fantastic. As modern society continues to encroach on native plant populations and land is altered and introduced with non-native plant species, native bees and other native wildlife feel the impact. “Bee” a good neighbor! Plant native and provide nesting sites for native bees in your yard with these Nests for Native Bees from the Xerces Society.
Don’t Buy Food and Products Grown by Those Known to Use Bee Killing Chemicals.
This can be a tricky one since labels aren’t going to say “WARNING: We use bee-killing chemicals.” It would be nice if they did, but of course, that’s not going to happen. Buy organic fruits and vegetables, go to farmer markets that you trust, and grow your own food. Support small-scale, local farms that are bee friendly. The great thing about growing your own food is that you can preserve it by freezing, canning, or dehydrating for year-long storage. This is a wonderful learning experience for the whole family, and you really develop a strong respect for the land and a deeper connection to that which sustains us. Growing your own food can truly lead to a grateful heart! A really important point to know is that cotton ranks extremely high in pesticide use. Buy certified, organic cotton!
Get Involved with Citizen Science Projects that Help the Bees.
Working together to help promote bee conservation is a fantastic thing to do! There are a lot of citizen science projects out there to consider. Although my family hasn’t been involved with any bee projects yet, we have had a lot of fun with monarch citizen science projects and other projects helping to contribute to scientific research sharing our love for nature and science. Check out Save Bees to explore some fun looking opportunities to help bees with citizen science.
Teach your Children about the Benefits of Pollinators.
My son is fascinated by pollinators and loves bees. By getting out in nature and watching various species of bees in action as they work their magic, you’ll all be amazed! Growing your own food and teaching your children about the pollination process starts them young in thinking about their connection to the food that’s on their plate. Children learn to respect nature by growing up with a love for the natural world they are PART of. It’s no different with bees. Help your children cultivate a deep respect for pollinators by getting them out in nature and being involved observing the magic these little guys get done. Have fun reading bee books, putting on bee puppet shows, doing bee crafts, and watching pollinator videos. There are so many fun activities you can do with children to explore the world of bees.
Learn More About the Diversity of Native Bees in your Area!
Honey bees that are kept by beekeepers differ from the bees that are native to your area. Learn more about the decline of the native bees where you live! These are the bees that need our help the most! What species of native bees live near you?
Learn MORE about Bees and the Amazing Job they have on the Planet!
There are so many wonderful resources out there to help you learn more about bees and how we can help pollinators. Check out these wonderful resources on feeding and attracting native bees!
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Thanks for joining Nature Art Exploration in celebrating World Bee Day and thinking about how we can all “Bee Friendly” year-long! If you’re interested in helping out the butterflies in your area, as well, don’t forget to check out my post, Creating a Family Butterfly Garden. It explores some great topics in native plant gardening! Please feel free to share in with your comments below. Nature Art Exploration loves to hear from you.
