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Spring Field Trip to the Wild Honeybee Populations of the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve

May 24 @ 9:30 am - 4:00 pm PDT

$10.00

There is something truly awe-inspiring about witnessing honeybees flying in and out of their secretive wild abode nestled within a tree. Honeybees have been intertwined with trees since ancient times and constitute an evolutionary system. However, nowadays, when one thinks of a “honeybee hive,” the first image that typically comes to mind is a white box in an apiary. 

Numerous indicators suggest that wild honeybees exhibit remarkable resilience and longevity, surpassing the health of their counterparts in managed apiaries. The intricate interdependencies within wild ecosystems appear to foster their flourishing. To delve into this phenomenon within our own bioregion, Apis Arborea initiated a comprehensive 7-year research endeavor at the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve, one of Sonoma State University’s Preserve.

Since 2021, almost 60 wild honeybee trees have been identified and are subjected to monthly monitoring. Through this endeavor, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing their intrinsic preferences and behaviors while delving into their life cycles and their role as integral members of a diverse pollinator community. Several research nesting sites have been established for climate monitoring, and in 2024, we collaborated with multiple universities for genetic sampling. The results of these efforts will be published later this year.

In an effort to extend this knowledge to our broader community, we’re offering a rare chance to join us on a field trip to the Preserve. During this excursion, we will spend the day exploring wild bee trees, delving into the intricacies of our project and its discoveries, and engaging in hands-on activities such as beelining.

We are looking forward to welcoming you for this trip into the Wild (please know that only a limited amount of tickets is available).

“In observing bees in their most unadulterated state, we often find our perceptions of them undergo a profound transformation. Indeed, we may even discover that we ourselves are changed in the process”.  Jonathan Powell (wild honeybee custodian, UK)



Details

Date:
May 24
Time:
9:30 am - 4:00 pm PDT
Cost:
$10.00

Organizer

Apis Arborea

Tickets

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Field Trip - May 24
$10.00
18 available