Submit Your Data!

Please note, in 2024 we launched an updated Bumble Bee Watch, and the data submission process has changed somewhat. We will update the material below soon. In the meantime, if you have trouble with data submission, please refer to the training workshop video, which includes a chapter on data upload. Or, you are welcome to contact us: [email protected].

We will be collecting all bumble bee data using the citizen science website Bumble Bee Watch. You can either submit data using our Android or Apple apps, or online using the web app. See here for a tutorial on submitting bumble bee data using mobile apps. There is also a video on the Training Videos page showing you how to do this. Don't for get to Submit your Survey Data.

• Make sure you have the paper data sheets you used in the field to record both habitat and bee observation data.
• Curate your photos.
  1. Locate the photos you took that correspond to the survey you are uploading data for.
  2. Make sure you know which photos belong to which individual bee on the data sheets. All of this information should be on your datasheet, so have that nearby.
  3. Select your best photos of each bee. Consider cropping photos to make it easier to see small features on the bees.
  4. Each bee observation can include up to 5 photos. Pick your best bee shots, and also include at least one photo of the plant you collected the bee from in this set of 5! 
• Login to Bumble Bee Watch
• Choose Record a Sighting -> Bumble Bee Sighting

Step 1: Enter the Location and Habitat Data

• Select the correct Project (YELLOW HIGHLIGHT in graphic below)
  • If you conducted a point or roadside survey, select Bumble Bee Atlas (this will allow you to enter habitat data)
  • If you are submitting incidental observations, select Bumble Bee Watch (no habitat fields will appear)
• Enter the survey location (BLUE)
  • You can use:
    • The map (enter a location, address, etc. in the box directly above the map - then click the closest match) -- You must also provide a site name
    • Previous Locations (Start typing in the "Your Locations" box and select the correct site) -- if you use this option You will NOT need to enter a site name.
    • Latitude and Longitude (If you are confident you have the correct coordinates, you can enter these directly, but please be sure to include the negative (-) sign in front of the longitude) -- You must also provide a Site Name of your choosing.
• Enter the Location Accuracy (if the point is within your survey area, and you surveyed a hectare, choose 25-50 m)
• Enter the date.

Step 1 (continued)​

• If you're entering point or roadside survey data, next you will enter your habitat and survey site data. The fields on the website form will match the fields on your habitat datasheet. Just copy the information from your datasheet to the web form. Select the number of flowering plants you have to enter, and it will open the number of appropriate options.

 

Survey Data: site overview

Survey Data: flowering resources, nesting habitat and management sections.

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Flowering plant detail

Step 1 (continued):
​Next you will enter your volunteer hours (if applicable)

• Enter the information to the best of your ability. You will also find these fields on your datasheet.
• When you are finished, click 'next' to advance to Step 2

Volunteer data

​Step 2: Enter your Bumble Bee Observations

1. Upload your photos (you may include up to 5 photos -- 3-4 for your bumble bee and at least one for the plant you collected it from); you can do this either by dragging your files into the provided box, or by selecting the "Choose Files" button.
2. Enter your best guess at the bumble bee species (if you'd like to, you can also continue to use our interactive ID tool by selecting the Identification Tool).
3. Add the scientific name (preferred) or common name of the host plant if you know it.
4. Include any observation notes.
5. Press Save to save your progress.
6. When complete you can select:

• Add another -- this will give you the option to add another bumble bee observation to this survey, and you will not have to re-enter the site/date or survey information.
• Save -- please do this each time you add a new bee. This will ensure that the checklist gets saved.
• View Checklist -- This will take you to a summary of the data you have entered for this survey.

NOTE: This screen shot may look slightly different from the final screen on BBW. The site was in development when this web page was published.