Habitat Assessment Overview
Habitat Assessments will take place at all point and roadside surveys. These assessments help us gain a better understanding of what habitat features are important for bumble bees and provide insight on how to better manage our lands to promote bumble bee conservation. You will conduct one habitat assessment per point survey, and 5 habitat assessments per roadside survey (1 per stop).

You can do your habitat surveys before or after your bumble bee survey,  but they do need to be done on the same day to ensure the habitat conditions correspond to the observed bumble bee community. These surveys should take no more than 30 minutes, and the time needed will vary depending on a surveyor's experience and the habitat complexity.

To complete this form you will need:

1. The datasheet
2. A local wildflower plant guide​

Conducting a Habitat Assessment
Step 1: Fill out Site Information

1. The site name should be the same site name you use for your Bumble Bee observations.
2. Enter the date and survey type. If conducting a roadside survey, keep track of which survey you are on, you will complete 5 in total.​

Step 2: Fill out Habitat Information

1. Circle ONE dominant habitat type of the SURVEY AREA (area surveyed for bumble bees) under Developed or Natural Areas (not both). It may be difficult to choose just one, but please do your best. You can add notes under Site Description if need be.
2. Circle all observed habitat types present in the SURROUNDING AREA.
3. Circle how much of the SURVEY AREA has flowering resources.​
4. Circle the number of flowering plant species you observe in the SURVEY AREA.
5. Circle all observed features you see in or near the survey area.
6. Answer the questions about site management to the best of your ability. This includes the SURVEY AREA and the SURROUNDING AREA.

Step 3: Fill out Plant Species in Bloom

1. ​Flip the page over and start by circling the number of different plant species in bloom in your area.
2. Fill in the names of blooming plant species in your survey area to the best of your ability. You may write down the common name or the scientific name, but try to be as specific as possible.

​For help with identifying plants, try using the smartphone app iNaturalist, or take photos to identify later at home. Plant photos taken for later identification are for your own use.