What is the Bumble Bee Atlas?

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The Bumble Bee Atlas is administered by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which is a  donor-supported nonprofit organization that protects our world through the conservation of  invertebrates and their habitats. The Atlas is a community (aka citizen or participatory) science project  aimed at gathering the data needed to track and conserving bumble bees of Georgia, North Carolina, South  Carolina, and Tennessee. Their information suggests  that many species of bumble bees face an uncertain future, but lack the data needed to implement  effective conservation measures, especially at the regional scale. "Community science" means anyone is  welcome to participate and help contribute to a better understanding of bumble bee needs.  

The Southeast Bumble Atlas held a field training day at CBSP on June 13, 2025 with several members of  DNR Wildlife Resources Division including Wildlife Biologists and Wildlife Conservation team members,  and FOCBSP members Phil Larue, Jimmy and Tammy Cash. These friends held a dual purpose event on  09/27/2025 during Your State Parks Day conducting our first bumble bee survey field/practice day that  also served as a training event for additional Friends members.  

The Board subsequently voted to participate in the Southeast Bumble Bee Atlas community science project  annually. Volunteers are asked to conduct a maximum of 2 surveys per annual season at their adopted site area.  Of course, our site area is within CBSP. 

Our first survey was conducted on July 16, 2026 in native wildflower beds #1 & 2 by Patti Lee, Phil LaRue,  Jimmy and Tammy Cash. 24 individual bees were captured, photographed, identified, and released.  Required information and photographs were submitted to Bumble Bee Watch. The results from Bumble  Bee Watch were noted as follows:  12 Common Eastern, 10 Lemon Cuckoo, 1 Brown Belted, and 1  unidentified, which was also noted as unidentifiable by us as well.   Second survey was conducted on September 8, 2026 in native wildflower beds #1 & 2 by Pattie Lee,  Richard Harper, Phil Larue, Cheryl and Lon Reed, Jimmy and Tammy Cash. One bumble bee was  captured, photographed, identified and released. Required information and photographs were  submitted to Bumble Bee Watch. The results were noted as follows:  1 Common Eastern. 

Note: Low  numbers are common and expected towards the end of the season.  Native wildflower beds #1 & 2 are located on the right side of the roadway just prior to reaching the main kiosk booth.