Page 21 - Bumblebee Conservation Trust Buzzword magazine winter 2020

2020
Important information Surveys roundup

for members

By Darryl Cox, Senior Science and Policy Officer

Winter-active bumblebees
Notice is hereby given that the 14th
Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the The majority of bumblebee queens are safely tucked
Bumblebee Conservation Trust will be held On-line auction up in the ground hibernating by now. However,
on Saturday 12 December 2020 online each year we receive many reports of bumblebees
via Zoom. As in previous years, we will be In previous years, we have held a raffle remaining active, particularly Buff-tailed bumblebees. If
holding the AGM followed by a Supporters’ with some fantastic prizes. This year, we you come across any bumblebees between November
Day and would be delighted if you could are holding an online auction through www. and February, try your best to take a photo and report
join us. jumblebee.co.uk. There are some amazing your sighting to the Bees Wasps and Ants Recording
items to bid on, donated by business Society online here: www.bwars.com/content/
This year’s keynote speaker will be supporters of the Trust. The auction will go submit-sighting-winter-bumblebee.
Professor Dave Goulson, founder of ‘live’ on from 18 November to 11 December
the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and 2020. Keep an eye on our website!
Professor of Biology (Evolution, Behaviour BeeWalk
and Environment), School of Life Sciences, Voting The BeeWalk season for 2020 has ended and now
University of Sussex. Professor Goulson Voting will be conducted in advance of the is the time to input any remaining data so that they
will be looking back at the founding of AGM. You will receive an email notification can be analysed in time for the annual report next
the Trust and providing some interesting when online voting opens if we hold an spring. We are especially grateful for the efforts of our
anecdotes into his career. email address on file for you, otherwise we BeeWalkers during a challenging survey year. If you
Please note that due to the virtual nature will send you a paper copy of the voting require assistance with entering your data, please
of the two events, questions can only be form by post. Please see the form for full contact us at beewalk@bumblebeeconservation.
submitted by email to yourquestions@ details on how to cast your vote. org.
bumblebeeconservation.org. Although We look forward to ‘seeing you’ online on
this email account will be monitored on Saturday 12 December 2020!
12th December, please submit questions Nest survey
in advance if at all possible, preferably If you have any questions contact us at: This year we ran a trial bumblebee nest survey
by 5pm on 10th December 2020. Please Tel: 01786 594130 or email:
specify if your question is related to the and have been overwhelmed with the number of
responses we have received. Over 800 people have
AGM (only members can ask questions membership@bumblebeeconservation.org responded to date and we look forward to analysing
at the AGM) or is of a general nature that the results to see what they can tell us about
could be answered during the Supporters’ bumblebee nesting habits across the country.
Day meeting. We will endeavour to answer
as many questions as possible on the day.
To learn more about how
How to book Photos: top Buff-tailed bumblebee you can get involved with
Booking is essential. To book your tickets: queen (Bombus terrestris) on bumblebee recording, visit
www.bumblebeeconservation.org/agm mahonia, by Elizabeth Cooksey; www.bumblebeeconservation.
middle BeeWalk in progress; bottom
Early bumblebee nest (Bombus org/surveys/
20 pratorum) by Diego Fraile. 21