All: Below is an announcement for a bee identification course which will be held at the National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia during the week of July 5th (I know bad timing, but that's the only slot we could get for the nice lab).
You can read about the details in the announcement below, but one thing to point out is that unlike past courses we will be emphasizing the details of identifying the trickier groups of species and will not cover the basics. We are going to assume that you have seen our online identification materials, have access to a dissecting microscope at home or the office, and have been learning and practicing on known specimens of bees (which we are happy to send you). You will learn far more about bee identification if you have taken these steps and already know your way around guides, bees, their basic body parts and have struggled with the keys. Our job is to help end those struggles not simply start them! Let me know right away if you plan to attend as it is strictly a first come/first serve basis, classes have always filled with long waiting lists and we make no judgements or adjustments to who attends based on your past experience, level of education, or current needs. Training Announcement Native Bee Identification, Ecology, Research and Monitoring Course Dates: July 5-10, 2008 Course Location: National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV (http://training.fws.gov/ ) Course Leaders: Jason Gibbs, Alana Taylor, Sam Droege Course Length: 5 days/36 hours Course Description: The primary goal of this course is to provide participants the tools necessary to identify bees to species. To do that instructor ratios will be kept at 1 instructor to 8 participants. We will assume that students already have access to microscopes, will have read up on the basic literature on bee genera we have provided, and will have already practiced keying out bees to the genus level. We will emphasize learning to use online guides, how to identify tricky characters within groups such as Osmia, Lasioglossum, Andrena, Nomada and will be showing these characters to the class on projecting microscopes. A large collection of Eastern North American bees will be available for your use; surplus specimens will be available free for your personal collection. In conjunction with learning identification skills there will be a daily lectures on bee natural history, monitoring, and research techniques. We will be going out in the field throughout the week to set traps and net bees so that participants can see the entire spectrum of field to microscope work. We encourage participants to be bring a net, we will provide you with traps and processing equipment. You are also encouraged to bring your own specimens with you and we can help with identification, as time permits. Laptops, microscopes, will be provided. Who Should Attend: Federal, state, county and municipal agencies, private consulting firms, citizen volunteers, neighborhood associations, environmental organizations, and teachers, performing native pollinator assessments or monitoring programs; with a desire to improve their identification skills. How to apply: To register, email Sam Droege ( sdro...@usgs.gov ). First come, first serve Cost: Tuition is waived for FWS employees; for the remainder tuition is $250 U.S. Food is available at the training center and lodging is available in nearby Shepherdstown. Questions: Please contact Sam Droege, sdro...@usgs.gov, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Thanks Sam Droege Jason Gibbs Alana Taylor Sam Droege sdro...@usgs.gov w 301-497-5840 h 301-390-7759 fax 301-497-5624 USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center BARC-EAST, BLDG 308, RM 124 10300 Balt. Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705 Http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov this is the garden:colours come and go, this is the garden:colours come and go, frail azures fluttering from night's outer wing strong silent greens silently lingering, absolute lights like baths of golden snow. This is the garden:pursed lips do blow upon cool flutes within wide glooms,and sing (of harps celestial to the quivering string) invisible faces hauntingly and slow. This is the garden. Time shall surely reap and on Death's blade lie many a flower curled, in other lands where other songs be sung; yet stand They here enraptured,as among the slow deep trees perpetual of sleep some silver-fingered fountain steals the world. - by: e.e. cummings P Bees are not optional.
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