How to Count Pollinators

Five minutes. One plant. Your count could be the data point that changes what we know about bees in your region.

A stationary count is the core of what we do at the Great Sunflower Project. It's simple, it's flexible, and it works in any outdoor space — a backyard, a school garden, a community park, a roadside patch of wildflowers. Here's everything you need to know to do one well.

Before you start: what to record

Grab something to write with, or open the count form on your phone. Before your timer starts, note:

  • The date, time, and your location — as specifically as you can
  • The plant you're watching — common name or scientific name, whichever you know
  • How many flowers you're watching — if your plant has flowers arranged in a spike or cluster (like lavender or goldenrod), count the individual flowers in the bunch you've chosen to watch and write that number down

Choosing your plant is worth a moment's thought. Pick one that's actively blooming, in a spot where you can sit or stand comfortably for at least five minutes with a clear view of the flowers.

During the count: what to watch for

Start your timer and count every pollinator — bee, butterfly, wasp, fly, beetle — that touches your flowers. A few things to keep in mind:

  • Count visits, not individuals. If a bee flies away and comes right back, count it again. We want to know how much pollinator activity your plant is generating, and every visit counts.
  • Identify if you can, but only if you're sure. You can be as specific as you like — bumblebee, honeybee, small native bee, butterfly — but only record an identification you're confident in. "Bee" is a perfectly valid entry. A wrong identification is more problematic than a general one.
  • Zero visits is valid data. If nothing visits your plant during your count, that's not a failed observation — it's a result, and one of the most important ones we collect. Be sure to record it.

Try to observe for at least five minutes. Longer counts are even better, but five minutes is the minimum that gives us usable data.

Entering your count on the website

When you're done, log in at www.GreatSunflower.org and click Add a Count. The form walks you through four quick steps.

Tip: You can do the whole count — timer and data entry — directly on the website from your phone or tablet. No paper needed.

Step 1 Count type, time, and location
Select Stationary as your count type. Choose your observation duration — or use the built-in timer. Then identify your location: either select a place you've used before, or drop a pin on the map for a new spot. Click Next.

Need your exact coordinates? If the map pin isn't landing precisely enough, you can find your latitude and longitude directly from your phone:

  • iPhone: Open the Compass app — your coordinates are shown at the bottom of the screen. Or open Maps, tap and hold your exact spot until a pin drops, then tap the pin to see the coordinates.
  • Android: Open Google Maps, tap and hold your location until a pin drops. Your latitude and longitude appear in the search bar at the top of the screen.

Coordinates look like this: 37.7749, −122.4194 — the first number is latitude, the second is longitude. You only need to be accurate to a few decimal places.

Step 2 Your plant
Enter the number of flowers you watched, then type your plant name into the smart search box — it will offer matching suggestions to help you find the right species. Click Next.

Not sure what plant you're watching? The free iNaturalist app (iPhone and Android) can identify plants from a photo in seconds. Open the app, tap the camera, photograph the leaves and flowers, and iNaturalist will suggest an identification — often confirmed by its community of expert naturalists. It's a good habit to identify and log your plant in iNaturalist before your count begins, and you'll be contributing to biodiversity science at the same time.

Step 3 What you saw
Use the green buttons to record each pollinator type you observed. If you saw more than one species of the same type, use the "I saw another pollinator" link to add it. If you saw no pollinators at all, check that box — zero-visit counts are among the most scientifically valuable data we collect. Click Next.
Step 4 Time observed
Enter the number of minutes you spent watching your plant. Click Finish — and you're done. You'll have a chance to review and correct anything on the next screen before your count is submitted.

Not registered yet? You'll need a free account to submit counts.

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Questions about what you saw? Our Pollinator Gallery can help you put a name to an unfamiliar visitor. And if you're not sure which plant to watch, see our guide to what to plant for pollinators in your region.