Pollination | A Pollinator Health Podcast

Listen in to learn more about how you can get started rearing your own queens, the many facets of it's preparation, and Heather's tips in getting started. “Colonies aren't going to rear queens for you unless they're absolutely bursting with bees, and you won't be able to rear good quality queens unless there's a really high level of nutrition in that colony.” - Heather Higo. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Heather-Higo

Listen in to learn about Lincoln Best's manifesto for native bees and plant communities, and his best practices for volunteers in the Oregon Bee Atlas. “A lot of our environmental issues are landscape issues. So in order to have a healthy landscape, we need to know how to manage places and also restore them.” - Lincoln Best. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Lincoln-Best

Listen in to today's episode to learn more about FFAR, the work FFAR is doing to help pollinator research, and how they are helping citizen scientists. “We consider the topic of pollinators and pollinator health to be vital to agriculture and to the success of the United States’s agriculture.” - Sally Rockey. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-FFAR

Listen in to learn more about the science of anthecology, how you can develop resources for pollinators, and what makes the honeybee unique to other bees. “I was really excited to share what I saw. I feel really passionate about it, and I want other people to be passionate about it, too.” - Travis Owen. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Travis-Owen

Listen in to this episode to learn more about Mullerian mimicry, it's role in the evolution of bumblebees, and why it is the subject of Briana's research. “Depending on where you are, you might have the same species with completely different color patterns, and this is fairly common in Oregon.“ - Briana Ezray. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Briana-Ezray

Listen in to learn the role of a museum in biodiversity and pollinator research, how citizen scientists can help, and OSU's new grant-funded bee project. “This atlas will stand as a record of what we have done, and hopefully as a basis for understanding where we might go look for more records or need more records.“ - Dr. Chris Marshall. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Chris-Marshall

Listen in to learn how best to take care of your mason bees, when to place them outside, and how the Bee Buddy program helps the pollinator community. “If any of you have the chance, take a mason bee or any pollinator, look at it under the microscope and I think it’s going to open up a whole new world to you.” - Jerry Paul. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Bee-Buddies

Listen in to learn about how John got started with nucleus colonies, how he has influenced other beekeepers, and what he saw change in his bees over time. “We examined a number of different beekeeping operations, and it came out that nuc production was the best way to make money. “ - John Gates. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-John-Gates

Listen in to learn about Mark’s work on bees and their communication, how his publications have impacted beekeepers everywhere, and his upcoming release. “If I was going to hang out with beekeepers, I needed to learn how to communicate with them effectively, and I learned very quickly that beekeepers are way smarter than most scientists give them credit for.“ - Mark L. Winston. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Mark-L-Winston

Listen in to learn more about how honeybees affect global regions, which pollinators are the most effective, and how studies could improve their research. “In the fight for bee conservation, we shouldn’t be focusing on honeybees because that’s an agricultural and economic issue, not a conservation issue.” - Isabella Messer. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-OSU-Bee-Squad

Listen in to learn how your local and country agencies have fought for pollinator health, and what changes are taking place with farmers and regulators. “To have this already written plan that has already been agreed upon as a good idea would be really useful for people who want to do the right thing, but aren’t quite sure what that is.“ - Rose Kachadoorian. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Rose-Kachadoorian

Listen in to learn more about the Monarch butterfly, what Monarch waystations are and why they exist, and their unique system of migration. “The adult butterfly weighs half as much as a paperclip, yet they fly 40 miles a day and up to 700 miles [to their destination].“ - Tom Landis. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at bit.ly/PN-Tom-Landis

Listen in as we talk about Reardon’s landmark bill, what it has done for pollinators, and how he involved the bee-keeping community. “[This bill] is one of my favorite projects, ever.“ - Jeff Reardon. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at bit.ly/PN-Jeff-Reardon

Listen in as we talk about honey bee nutrition, what beekeepers need to know about nutrition supplements and sterols, and what Ramesh has learned about controlling varroa mites. “There is not much that we understand about the needs of sterols in honey bees.” - Dr. Ramesh Sagili. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Ramesh-Sagili

Listen in as we talk about butterflies, their fascinating relationship with nature, and how you can plant your garden to attract more butterflies. “The first step is to be curious about butterflies and start noticing them, and then where does your interest lie? Would you like to know more about their natural history? Do you want more of them in your yard? Or are you a birder who wants something new?“ - Alison Center. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Alison-Center

Listen in to hear about the history of pollinators in Northern Canada, wintering techniques, and how packages of bees have changed the beekeeping industry. “In the summertime, it’s God’s country for beekeeping.“ - John Gruszka. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-John-Gruszka

Listen in to learn more about the BEEvent, Oregon’s pollinator conference, and what this event provides gardeners and pollinator enthusiasts of all kinds. “There is a lot of hunger out there to do something to help [pollinators], but people don’t know what to do, and we’re giving them that information.” - Susan Morton. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-BEEvent

Listen in to learn about ground nesting bees, the potential problems of plant lists, and how to maximize the benefits of urban landscapes for pollinators. “A lot of [gardeners] don’t recognize the importance of next sites for bees, and in particular, the importance of nest sites for ground nesting bees.“ - Dr. Gail Langellotto. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Gail-Langellotto

Listen in to learn about the effect of the winter season on bee populations, how bees have adapted, and what beekeepers can do to protect their colonies. “They’re in such large numbers, they wouldn’t be able to make it through another year if they couldn't start the spring earlier than the other species. That’s in a way an advantage, but also a curse.” - Mehmet Doke. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Mehmet-Ali-Doke

Listen in to learn about highbush blueberries, and how honeybees can greatly benefit the pollination and harvest of your plants. “[Blueberries] are blooming in the spring, when we usually have fairly heavy rainfall, low temperatures, windstorms, and those are all environmental conditions that are really not good for foraging activities, especially in honeybees.” - Matt Arrington. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Matt-Arrington