UF/IFAS invites Floridians of all ages to join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census Aug. 21-22

What if protecting pollinators were as easy as spending 15 minutes watching a patch of flowers?

On Aug. 21-22, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extensions invites Floridians of all ages to join in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, one of the region’s largest citizen science conservation efforts.

Here's the buzz: no nets, lab coats or scientific degrees are needed. All it takes is finding a blooming plant in a backyard garden, neighborhood park, schoolyard or community garden and a little curiosity about what's fluttering, buzzing and flying nearby. Participants watch and record pollinators visiting flowers, helping build a regional snapshot of pollinator populations while learning about the insects that sustain food crops and native plants.

For more information about the census, contact Rhoden at Jeremy.k.rhoden@ufl.edu.

To learn about upcoming pollinator education events in your area, visit this UF/IFAS

blog or contact your local UF/IFAS Extension office. Follow the UF/IFAS Great Florida

Pollinator Census Facebook page for posted updates on the census.