Calgary Pollinator Project
The Calgary Pollinator Project is a community science project dedicated to documenting pollinator diversity in Calgary and creating a welcoming environment where we can all learn about nature together.
Photos by Justine Doll
About
The Calgary Pollinator Project was launched in 2021 by Dr. Mindi Summers at the University of Calgary after her entomology class suggested the creation of the project as a way to continue observing pollinator biodiversity. Justine Doll took over the Calgary Pollinator Project in 2023 with the goal of bringing individuals together to create a collaborative learning environment. She hosted monthly community pollinator walks throughout 2023 and they were a huge success. Check out the 2024 community events below, we hope you will ‘bee’ there!
Photo by Haley Martin, arch Magazine
Get Involved
The Calgary Pollinator Project aims to document insect pollinators and their associated plants in Calgary. You can help us by contributing your photographs of an insect interacting with a flower or flower parts of plants to the Calgary Pollinator Project on iNaturalist. You can also help out by joining us for a pollinator walk in 2024!
Calgary Pollinator Project on iNaturalist
If you are interested in co-hosting a nature walk in 2024 or want to get more involved in this project, please contact us! We are always looking for more people to get involved so the project and events can keep running! You do not have to be an expert to host a community science walk or event. We all learn and grow together so I highly encourage anyone who is interested to reach out. Whether you are interested in plants, pollinators, birds, fungi, mosses, or anything else, we would love to have you share your knowledge and passion with us. This is also a great opportunity for undergraduate students to get some research and field experience.
Events
Fish Creek Pollinator Walk – Register here
June 9, 2024 - Voltier's Flats - Fish Creek Provincial Park
1:00pm - 2:30pm
*weather permitting
Join us on July 20, 2024 at 11:00am for an afternoon adventure discovering the native plants and pollinators at McKinnon Flats.
Research
The Calgary Pollinator Project contains over 10,000 data points about plant-pollinator interactions in Calgary from 2008-2024. My name is Justine Doll, I am currently completing my master’s thesis, supervised by Dr. Jana Vamosi and Dr. Mindi Summers, studying the impacts of urbanization on plant-pollinator interactions. I am also interested in learning about how community science projects benefit community members. I am passionate about helping make science accessible for everyone. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to my project in any way. I will be sharing the results of my thesis work publically once it is complete.
Photo by Haley Martin, arch Magazine
Contact
Questions, comments, ideas, or concerns?
Email: contact.appc.hub@gmail.com
Follow Justine on Instagram @dollecology for project and event updates!