The Great Georgia Pollinator Census is a citizen science project created by the University of Georgia. This project is designed for everyone to participate and make a difference for pollinator conservation! 

Below is a map of ideal locations to participate in the pollinator census within the City. There will also be a table set up at the Covington Farmers Market at Heirloom Park (1143 Oak Street SE) on Saturday, August 20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to assist in counting pollinators.  Please consider stopping by to check out the farmers market as well as take 15 minutes to count pollinators! If you want to do it at home or in another location, download a census counting guide here, count pollinators on either August 19 or August 20 for at least 15 minutes and then upload your counts at https://ggapc.org/. For frequently asked questions, please see below or visit The Great Georgia Pollinator Census website for more information.

Who can participate in the census? The census is designed for citizens of Georgia – and now South Carolina! – of all ages to participate.  We encourage school groups, gardeners, families and individuals to be a part of the project. You do not need to be an entomologist to partake; we ask for only basic insect identification into these categories:

• Bumble bees
• Carpenter bees
• Honey bees
• Small bees
• Wasps
• Flies
• Butterflies/Moths
• Other Insects

How do participants count?  You will be asked to choose a favorite pollinator plant – a plant from your garden that shows insect activity, for example – for counting. You should count and identify the insects that land on the flowers of that plant for 15 minutes. To make sure your counts are included in our database, visit The Great Georgia Pollinator Census website on August 20, where you will find a pop-up prompting you to add your information. 

Do I count every time an insect lands on the plant, even though I know that insect has been on the plant earlier?  Yes, we are technically counting insect visits, not just the number of insects, so be sure to count each time any insect lands on your plant – regardless of whether it’s been there before.

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