Great Southeast Pollinator Count

Be a citizen scientist! The NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers of Orange County invite you to join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census at our counting event on Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to noon, at the Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Center, 1020 US Hwy 70, Hillsborough, NC, 27278 (across from the DMV office).  

In six states on Aug. 21 and 22, the Great Southeast Pollinator Census will capture information about pollinating insects and the plants they visit.

It’s easy to help! You don’t need to be an insect expert; anyone (including kids) can count. Just watch a flowering plant for 15 minutes and make notes on the insects that visit the plant. Data from the count will be uploaded and shared with researchers.

At our event in Hillsborough on Aug. 22, we’ll have counting sheets and fun activities for kids! Please bring a watch or phone that will help you time a 15-minute interval. Also, please bring a hat and water. Hope you’ll join us!

If you want to count on your own on Aug. 21 and 22, visit the North Carolina pollinator count website, where you’ll find lots of information, links to counting sheets and instructions for uploading your numbers. You can count at home or in a public place.