Pollinators & Westgate Park: Summer Citizen Science Workshop

We have established a network of ‘pollinator observatories’ in Westgate Park.

At this workshop, you will learn to identify several insect pollinators, including native and non-native bees and butterflies. We will then visit the pollinator observatories to make observations of plant-insect interactions.

This is the seventh (and final!) in this series of workshops. Each time we have seen something unexpected just through observing more closely.

Note: The workshop is in two consecutive sessions: the first at the Port Education Centre and the second in Westgate Park - a short distance away. By registering, you undertake to attend both sessions.

Session 1: Introduction to 'Providing for Pollinators' and the tools for monitoring them (at the Port Education Centre)

Blythe Vogel and Luis Mata will introduce you to a ‘Protocol to record ecological interactions between plants and pollinators using timed surveys’ and a ‘Visual field guide for the identification of targeted pollinators’. These documents will be discussed and your questions about the field protocol and species identification encouraged.

A handout questionnaire will test your capacity to successrfully complete the field protocol and accurately identify the targeted insects. This is an open book shared session - not a scary test!

Session 2: Visit the 'Summer' pollinator observatories in Westgate Park

The workshop will move into Westgate Park to visit the ‘summer' pollinator observatories and work with the tools learned in Session 1.

Providing for Pollinators is a research and community engagement collaboration between Westgate Biodiversity Bili Nursery & Landcare (formerly Friends of Westgate Park) and the National Environmental Science Programme – Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub. The project is supported and funded by the City of Melbourne.

The Port Education Centre is kindly made available for the workshop by the Port of Melbourne.

FAQs

Getting there and parking

Plenty of space for bikes. 0nly bus 235 from Southern Cross Station operates on Sunday. Get off the bus at Defence Science & Technology (DSTO) and walk over railway line to Port Education Centre.(Note: the venue is about an hour's walk from Southern Cross Station)

The Port Ed Centre is on the Port Melourne side of the Yarra River. Set your GPS to 343 Lorimer St. Do not be led astray by your GPS to cross the Westgate Bridge.

Free car parking is readily available on a Sunday inside the Port Education Centre and on Lorimer Street.

What shall I bring?

Dress appropriately for the weather and being out in the Park for some time. Closed shoes are recommended for the workshop in the Park. BYO water bottle. Westgate Bili avoids the use of single use plastic. The Port Ed Centre is well equipped with cups & cutlery and some snacks will be provided between sessions. Note that there are no shops open nearby on a Sunday.

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?

Please contact janet.bolitho@gmail.com or 0434 575 171