DURHAM, N.H. - New Hampshire bee enthusiasts will take to the White Mountain National Forest in mass for the first full-scale Bee BioBlitz organized by the University of New Hampshire. The event takes place June 27-28, 2015, and is open to the public.

The UNH Bee BioBlitz is organized by Sandra Rehan, assistant professor of biological sciences and researcher with the NH Agricultural Experiment Station, and funded by the experiment station. The goals of the Bee BioBlitz are to document the diversity of bee species in the White Mountain National Forest, with a particular focus on native bees; connect bee researchers across New England; and demonstrate bee surveys and research techniques to interested members of the public and students. 

The White Mountain National Forest is a national forest made up of more than 800,000 acres. The Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch will be the home base for the Bee BioBlitz. Pinkham Notch is a mountain pass between the Presidential Range and the Wildcat Range, and two rivers drain into the notch -- the Ellis and Peabody rivers.

According to Rehan, Pinkham Notch allows Bee BioBlitzers to access a variety of environments and elevations, including Northern hardwood forest, spruce and fir forest, Balsam fir forest, and the alpine zone. In addition to the variety of environments up Mount Washington, there also is a nearby bog ecosystem. Permits are required for collecting on public lands so attendees should contact Rehan if they are interested in collecting in particular areas.

Participants will collect bee specimens Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28. On Saturday from 8 to 9 p.m., Sam Droege, a biologist with the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, will offer a public lecture on "Native bees, native plants: their conservation, place in the world, and beauty." The lecture will be held at the Joe Dodge Lodge.

While the event is free, there are fees associated with lodging and meals. A group of rooms has been set aside at the Joe Dodge Lodge for those wanting to stay on location overnight. BioBlitzers should contact the lodge directly to book reservations. Other housing options include the Dolly Copp Campground, which has 176 primitive sites, or a variety of bed and breakfast or resort locations near Pinkham Notch. Breakfast and dinner are provided with housing at the Joe Dodge Lodge. Lunch can be purchased at the lodge for $10.95. Additionally, the Black Moose Deli has a la carte options.

Those interested in participating or needing additional information should contact Sandra Rehan at sandra.rehan@unh.edu. 

Founded in 1887, the NH Agricultural Experiment Station at the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture is UNH's original research center and an elemental component of New Hampshire's land-grant university heritage and mission. We steward federal and state funding, including support from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to provide unbiased and objective research concerning diverse aspects of sustainable agriculture and foods, aquaculture, forest management, and related wildlife, natural resources and rural community topics. We maintain the Woodman and Kingman agronomy and horticultural farms, the Macfarlane Greenhouses, the Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center, and the Organic Dairy Research Farm. Additional properties also provide forage, forests and woodlands in direct support to research, teaching, and outreach.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 13,000 undergraduate and 2,500 graduate students.

Photo available for download
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The goals of the Bee BioBlitz are to document the diversity of bee species in the White Mountain National Forest, with a particular focus on native bees; connect bee researchers across New England; and demonstrate bee surveys and research techniques to interested members of the public; and students.
Credit: Robin Hess/UNH