'BeeBlitz' projects turn to 'citizen science' to help data researchers

A bee lands on a flower during St. Louis BeeBlitz at Forest Park.

Dozens of volunteers have spent hours this summer in Forest Park, trying to photograph every bee that passes through homemade 2sq m grids. Known as a “BeeBlitz”, it’s an experiment in citizen science that researchers hope will allow them to collect detailed data on area bee populations.

“The project is important,” said volunteer and aspiring ecologist Abi Gorline, 17, of Sunset Hills, St Louis, the US. She attended a blitz earlier this month despite sweltering conditions. “I really like bees. I like ecology.”