Braelinn chips in with Great Georgia Pollinator Census Count

The ‘citizen scientists’ of Braelinn Elementary are always eager to chip in. When the Fayette County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers needed help with the Great Georgia Pollinator Census Count, the Stars aligned to do their part.

The Fayette County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers maintain 16 gardens in the pollinator trail across Fayette County, including one at Braelinn Elementary. On August 20, four classes of Stars participated in the annual census count of their garden as ‘citizen scientists.”

With a pencil, clip board, and tally sheet in hand, the children counted bees, butterflies, beetles, wasps, and flies that came to the flowering plants in the garden for 15 minutes. They even spotted a praying mantis.

“It is exciting for the children to watch for the pollinators to land on the plants,” said volunteer Vauna Bellury. “It is a learning experience for them to understand that our food comes from blooms that are pollinated and that we must provide flowers in our personal gardens and not spray so many chemical insecticides.”

The tally was entered into the website, and scientists will use the data to learn more about which plants the pollinators are more likely to visit during their search for pollen.