Bumblebee Challenge in Schwandorf: Citizens asked for species protection!

Bumblebee Challenge in Schwandorf: Citizens asked for species protection!

Did you know that bumblebees not only look cute, but are also essential pollinators for our agriculture? He recognized that too Federal Nature Conservation Association, who, together with the Thünen Institute, launched an exciting campaign, the “Hummel Challenge”. In the Schwandorf district, enthusiastic citizens can take part in documenting native bumblebee species until July 3, 2023 and thus actively contribute to species protection.

Since the start of the challenge, which was launched in 2022, hobby biologists and nature lovers have been able to photograph bumblebees, upload identifiable information to the “ObsIdentify” app and thus give their bumblebees a home in the database. The campaign not only serves to record bumblebees in Germany, but also improves our understanding of their distribution and frequency. Every single picture counts!

Participation made easy

How can you participate? Very easy! Download the “ObsIdentify” app onto your smartphone, create a free account and you’re ready to go. Remember that you should not disturb or catch the bumblebees - the simple snapshot is enough. Don't forget to also activate GPS tracking so that your data can be recorded accurately. By the way, many bumblebees prefer flowering plants such as knapweed and viper's head - now is the perfect time to enjoy nature!

• Challenge-Zeiträume:
• 20. März bis 9. April
• 20. Juni bis 3. Juli

So if you would like to photograph a few bumblebees during the second round of counting, which began at the beginning of summer on June 20th, you still have plenty of opportunity. All collected data flows into a nationwide monitoring project run by the Thünen Institute, which contributes to research into the influence of climate change and habitat changes on these important pollinators.

Research and collaboration

The collaboration with deserves a special mention Observation.org, an EU-backed platform that ensures the security and quality of data. Using the NIA identification software guarantees that the data collected meets scientific standards and is subject to the experience of real experts.

The Bumblebee Challenge is not only an opportunity to get involved, but also a valuable contribution to species protection and scientific research - and all of this with exciting access to valuable knowledge about bumblebees in Bavaria and beyond. If that doesn't sound exciting, we don't know what will!

For more information about the challenge and to register, visit the website Federal Nature Conservation Association or the Thünen platform. Join us and see how your observations can make a difference! Who knows, you might even discover a rare species of bumblebee!