Buzz about Native Bee Homes- DIY!

"Bees are a gardener’s best friend. Everyone who loves flowering plants or depends on plants for a living knows that without these important pollinators we would be in big trouble. That’s why wildlife habitat supporters encourage you to spend a little time this winter building and installing Mason Bee nests."

Mason Bee House

Materials

1. Drill bits 5/16^th of an inch.
2. Untreated scrap lumber or 4X6 wooden block.

 Method

1. Drill holes 3-5 inches deep using a regular pattern. Shallow holes may produce more male bees. You can attach a roof to protect it from midday sun and rain.
2. Place the bee house on the south side of buildings, fence posts or trees.
3. Do not spray insecticides on or around the bee house.

Check out the entire article:

BACKYARD NATURALIST: 'Bee' a friend to wildlife

Buzz About the Vanishing of the Bees Documentary

Coming to Southern California, see a screening!
October 8 - Santa Monica, CA 90405
October 13 - Pasadena CA 91103

Vanishing of the Bees - Known as Colony Collapse Disorder, honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet, literally vanishing from their hives. Vanishing of the Bees follows commercial beekeepers as they strive to keep their bees healthy. The film explores the struggles they face...

See more about this informative documentary at http://www.vanishingbees.com!

Bee Knowledgeable: Pesticides & Bee Behavior

 Evidence that pesticide use is a major factor in Colony Collapse Disorder continues to grow. More groups are taking action and bringing to light the effects of the varied pesticides we use on our ecosystem.

In recent studies, honey bees have been observed to seal off or cap over cells full of pollen. The behavior was noted because it is exceptionally odd. Bees do not usually cover or cap their pollen cells, only honey and brood. After testing the pollen in these sealed cells scientists found exceptionally high levels of chemicals and pesticides.

Would you like to know more? Check out the article about it:

Should some pesticides be banned to protect bees?

Buzz About World Pollinators

It is now well known that honeybee populations are now threatened. Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, is becoming less of a mystery. As troubling as it is, this is just the tip of the iceberg. All of our pollinator species are threatened. Check out this recent UN study: 

Bee deaths may signal wider pollination threat...

Thank you Russell Apiaries!

The Boojum Institute for Experiential Education would like to give Russell Apiaries a huge THANKS for donating three queen bees for our splits. Your generous contribution helps keep our Honeybee and World Health program going, ensuring that students learn crucial science concepts through a hands on experience with live bees!

Have You Heard The Buzz?

The Honeybees and World Health Traveling Education Program has wrapped up it's season. The Boojum Bees visited several more schools and even more educational conferences and fairs.

Here are some photos of just a few of the classrooms that got to experience honeybees firsthand...

The Center for Early Education in Los Angeles:

Any Boojum Institute experience is always very hands-on.

Idyllwild Community School:

Susan B. Coombs Intermediate School in Banning:

Have You Heard the Buzz?

The Boojum Bees have been all over Southern California this year!

Our little bee friends have made their appearance in several classrooms to the delight and fascination of all the students (and teachers, too!).

The Boojum Bees had their first "in the field" visit to an exuberant group of seventh grade environmental students in Joshua Tree National Park.

photo: Megan Beckett

These students were part of the California Regional Environmental Education Community, or CREEC. The students learned about the vitally important roles bees (and all pollinating animals) play in our ecosystem. We discussed how very crucial the bees are to our environment and to our human survival on this planet.

Our buzzing buddies next visited Westwood Charter School in Los Angeles. Five classes of 1st and 2nd grade students learned all about bees and their importance to our farms and food supply.

photo: Robyn Young

The Westwood Charter students got to participate in the waggle dance game, as well as touch and smell real honeycomb and queen cells.

Next the Boojum Bees will make their appearance for the kindergartners at Vintage Hills Elementary in Temecula, and many more schools are being visited in May!

Have you heard the Buzz?

The Boojum Bees took another trip to a classroom! Students in the S.A.F.E. Afterschool program at Hamilton Elementary in Anza, CA were visited by the bees last Friday. The first through fifth grade students were taught about the importance of bees to human and world health while observing the queen and her colony working in the observation hive.
An article about the student’s day with the bees was published in the March 1st edition of the High Country Journal.

Here are some photos from the presentation:

 

 

  

  

 

Have you heard the Buzz?

The Boojum Institute’s Honeybee and World Health traveling experiential education program recently visited the Santa Rosa Academy in Murietta, CA. Read a story, see the pictures and view a short video published recently in the Press Enterprise.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_sbees16.3ebb489.html