I'm a Community Scientist + so are you

Something that I love that Monarch Watch did was rename our titles of 'Monarch Enthusiasts' to "Community Scientists" because of our commitment to reporting our observations of adult monarchs in our area. This quantitative data will be used to inform the status of the monarch population status.

Monarch Watch even stated:

 "Records of not seeing monarchs are extremely important so we can understand what is happening with the population this year, so please don’t get discouraged if you are mainly reporting zero values."

I will be reporting via https://monarchwatch.org/app/ this app and it is so simple that you can do it too, even if you aren't interested in Monarchs!

Springing into Spring

This Spring, not only am I excited to report on Monarch sightings but I am really looking forward to seeing the sprouts of the milkweed seeds that we planted last fall. I'm curious if my little butterfly farm that I built last year will have any participants.

Winter was Cold, but Bank of America is COLDER

We need to hold Bank of America accountable for reversing its commitment to its customers, its investors, and the wildlife of the Arctic Refuge. Bank of America recognized that the Arctic is a fragile ecosystem, but yet they are still planning to finance oil drilling in the Arctic REFUGE.

Take action: Bank of America shouldn't finance oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge. It took me 10 seconds to sign my name on the petition and no you don't have to donate if you aren't able to!

Mind your Beeswax

STOP using neonicotinoid pesticides, or neonics. These can accumulate in beeswax and harm humans and bees!

A recent study conducted by researchers at Cornell University has confirmed concerns about widespread pesticide contamination in beeswax from managed honeybees. The study indicates that other bee-related products, such as honey, bee pollen, and wax used in cosmetics, may also be affected by these pesticides. The study's results add to existing concerns about the declining honeybee population in the U.S., with factors including pesticides, parasites, starvation, and climate change contributing to hive losses. Considering that a big chunk of what we eat comes from plants that rely on insect pollination, especially from honeybees, this study really highlights how crucial it is to tackle pesticide contamination. It's not just about saving the bees themselves but also about keeping our food supply secure.

Anyhow, Happy February and Happy LEAP YEAR!