Find information, context, and explanations for data collection here. This information can also be found in the Volunteer Field Packet. If you have additional questions about a data field or the data collection process, contact us. 

If you have completed your data sheets, SUBMIT DATA

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Data sheet fields help and explanations

Part 1: Survey data

These data are collected on both the habitat survey and nest report data sheets.

Date: Date when the survey took place.

Location Name: This is your name for the place you are surveying. For example: “Ryan Park” or “My backyard in Duluth.” This is mostly for you to help you remember where you were.

Observer: Name of the observer completing the survey.

Survey Start and End Time: Time the survey for bumble bee nest searching began and ended. Record when you started looking for bumble nest activity, and when you stopped. Do not include time when you started setting up your plot or recorded data.

I surveyed for nests for 20 minutes: Yes or no. This question is to confirm that you spent no more or no less than 20 minutes actively surveying for nests. This helps us to know that protocol was followed, even if the start and end time are greater than 20 minutes due to pausing the timer. If you did not survey for 20 minutes, please let us know why in the Survey Notes data field.

Latitude and Longitude: The GPS coordinates of your plot. Best collected from the center of your plot. An easy way to obtain this information is by standing in the center of your plot and using any maps app on your phone. Drop a pin at your location. This pin will give you location information, including latitude and longitude.  Use Decimal Degrees (DD) format when possible. Ex: 44.989239, -93.181743

Nest latitude and longitude: The GPS coordinates of the location of any nest you find. Use Decimal Degrees (DD) format when possible. Ex: 44.989239, -93.181743.

Plot Dimensions: The dimensions of your plot: 5x5 meters or 2.5 x 10 meters. Select one.

Temp (F): Current temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. This can be obtained from a weather app on your phone. Make sure you connect to the nearest weather station.

Air Quality Index: The air quality at the time of survey. This can be found for using your phone's weather app, or visiting airnow.gov. Record the numeric value rather than the category (i.e. 60 instead of “Moderate”).

Precipitation: The amount of precipitation at the time of surveying. Ideally, surveys are to be done when there is no precipitation. However, sometimes the weather may change rapidly.

Wind Speed: Your estimation of the amount of wind at the time you are surveying. Calm = no wind. Light breeze = barely moves leaves. Moderate wind = moves small branches. High wind = large branches in continuous motion.

How much of your survey plot has blooming flowers?: An estimation of the coverage of blooming plants in your plot. Pick one option.

Did you detect a bumble bee nest during your survey?: Y/N. This one is important to report, even if you didn’t find a nest! Records of no nests in a plot tells us information about the habitat that bumble bees ARE NOT using for nesting.

I took a photo of my plot: Check this box if you took a photo of your survey plot. You may upload the photo on the Survey123 data entry portal.

Bumble Bee Watch (BBW) username: If you do find a nest and report it to BBW, this name will help us associate the habitat data with the nest. You create your username when you set up your BBW account.

Bumble bee nest survey data sheet reference

Part 2: Macro Habitat Features - Collect landscape data

Broadly, what habitat is your plot located in?: This section is split into 5 broad habitat categories, with subcategories for some. Circle the best broad category that your survey plot is in, as well as the subcategory if you see fit. These descriptors may help you decide. 

• Prairie (few trees)

• Savanna (scattered shrubs and trees)

• Deciduous forest (broad-leaved trees)

• Coniferous forest (needle-leaved trees)

• Mixed forest (needle and broad-leaved trees)

• Urban park (public green space)

• Urban yard (private space that lacks flowers)

• Urban garden (maintained for flower or food production)

• Pasture (area of grass or other forage for grazing livestock)

• Fallow field/old field (plowed or cultivated land left unseeded and unplanted for one to several growing seasons, few trees. Old fields include formerly cultivated or grazed land with a mix of grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees),

• Roadside (narrow strip of land adjacent to a road).

What habitats are in the surrounding area ~0.5 miles from your plot?: Based on your knowledge or what you can see, what kinds of habitat are around the area you are surveying? Choose up to 3 options.

Is there evidence of management visible from your plot?: Based on your knowledge or what you can see, is there any active/recent management in the area? Select from the options, or write in something you may think is important. For example, do you see a sign indicating the area has recently been treated with pesticides? If you are unsure about management, it is better to leave this section blank than it is to guess.

Part 3: Habitat Features - Collect habitat features data

Habitat features measure the habitat at a finer scale. For example, features that may be relevant to nesting bumble bees include tall grass, rock piles, tree stumps, etc.

What features are inside the survey plot?: This field is to collect information on fine scale habitat characteristics that may affect nesting habitat. Choose as many as you see fit. If there are other objects that may be interesting, choose the Other category.

Please describe your survey plot in your own words: This is an open ended section for you to be able to describe your survey plot freely. Things that would be good to note here, would be anything you think is interesting or important to a nest bumble bee. Is there a lot of moss in your plot? Is there any sign of animal activity? Anything goes in this field.

Part 4: Survey wrap-up and effort.

Survey notes: This is an open-ended area for you to share other observations that may be interesting. If you surveyed for less or more than 20 minutes, please tell us what happened.

How many miles round trip did you travel to complete this survey?: Record the total distance you traveled to your survey location. If you conduct several surveys at the same location on the same date, please enter once. Enter 0 for other surveys.

How many hours did you spend volunteering, including prep, surveying, data entry and driving?: Record all the time you spent volunteering for Nest Quest in this particular survey round. Round your time to the nearest 15 minutes, i.e. 1.75 for one hour and 45 minutes.  If you conduct several surveys at the same location on the same date, please enter once. Enter 0 for other surveys.

Dropping a pin to find location latitude and longitude

1. Open any maps app on your phone

2. Find your current location on the map. Most apps have an “arrow” button to automatically orient you to your current location.

3. Tap and hold on your location to place a pin. This pin will provide you with location information, including latitude and longitude. Your app may give you the latitude and longitude with a N and W. This is the correct value, but is less widely used in ecological data formats. This can simply be translated to: 44.98964° N, 93.18131° W → 44.98964, -93.18131 

Even if you do not recognize the coordinate format your pin creates, it is best to include it anyway as it can be converted later. Any location data is good data.

Bumble bee nest report data sheet reference

Part 2: Nest description and characters

How much bee traffic is at the nest? An estimate of how active the nest is at the time of observation. This can be estimated by setting a timer for one minute and counting the number of bees exiting and entering the nest.

Where is the nest situated?: Can you identify where the nest entrance is located? Underground nests are usually a hole in the ground leading to a tunnel. Surface nests rest directly on the ground. If the nest is situated off the ground in some sort of structure, whether it be a tree cavity or a bird box, select “above the surface of the ground.” Sometimes it is difficult to tell how the nest is situated. In which case, you should select the "can’t tell” category.

What features are within 1 meter of the nest entrance?: This field is to measure fine scale characteristics that are close to the nest and may be used for nesting. One meter is equal to about 3 feet. Select as many features present as you see.

How much bare ground is present?: How much of the ground is visible around the nest? Are there a lot of leaves on the ground?

How much shade does the area around the nest have?: Is the nest shaded? How much sunlight is showing onto the nest entrance?

In your own words describe the nest: This is an open-ended field for you to describe the nest in your own words. Bumble bees are flexible nesters, and sometimes their nests are unique and can’t be narrowed down to a few boxes. What materials do you see? Do you see the nest entrance? Is there anything striking about the nest?

Part 3: Nest Identity

I took a photo of the nest: Check this box when you take a photo of the detected bumble bee nest. You will need to upload a photo when you report the nest to Bumble Bee Watch. Try to get a photo of the bees you see entering the nest. If you cannot get close to the nest, take a photo that shows where the nest is located.

Bumble bee species ID: If you feel confident in your bumble bee ID, identify the species.

How confident are you in your bumble bee identification from 1 to 5?: On a scale of 1 to 5 how confident in your bumble bee ID? 1 being not at all, and 5 being very confident.