On a bright, cold Sunday in early December, Jack Burkhalter and Julia Ferguson met with Brendan Hines to learn more about his Eagle Scout project. He is working to teach other scouts how to make and donate houses for our native wood nesting bees who are threatened with habitat loss.
Brendan approached us last summer and has steadily advanced on this project since then. He has a Scout Master teaching him wood working skills. Jack Burkhalter has advised his research on the pollinator and pollinator habitat details and importance of these friendly pollinators. Brendan is an avid researcher.
Brendan's project goals are:
- Lead others in service. This is the most important part of any Eagle Project.
- Make 15 long lasting bee boxes with semi-permanent biodegradable wood inserts (these inserts are what the bees will actually lay their eggs in), and place 7 of them appropriately in the gardens and on Roosevelt Island with other organizations sites.
If you would be interested in hosting one of these in your garden, please let us know.
Also if you would like to support Brendan's costs for materials which may run up into the range of $750.00. Please contact him at [email protected] or at [email protected]. He has a fundraising video and a paypal address that he can send you and he has already raised more than half his needed amount!
To learn more check out Xerces Society Page on Nesting Resources or Bring Back the Pollinators: 5 Ways to Increase Habitat for Native Bees
The image of one of these pollinators below is from the Xerces article. Raspberry Canes are great for these guys.
Plants with pithy stems can be excavated by small carpenter bees and other cavity-nesters.
Photo: Nancy Lee Adamson.
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