In this section, we will be highlighting different features, birds and/or users of Frank Lake. This month’s highlight is:
Ilan Domnich – Native Bee Stewardship Specialist
Who is the Alberta Native Bee Council (ANBC)?
The Alberta Native Bee Council (ANBC) is a non-profit organization established in 2017 in response to gaps in research, monitoring, and accessible information on Alberta’s native bees. Our mission is to promote the conservation of native pollinator communities through research and monitoring, education, advocacy, and collaboration. We work with partners across the province to support healthy, resilient pollinator populations and habitats.
A major focus of our work is the province-wide Native Bee Monitoring Program, a five-year rotating initiative involving approximately 50 partners across Alberta. Using standardized tools such as blue vane traps, we collect data on native bee diversity and distribution. This program has already contributed important findings, including new provincial bee records and distribution data. The results help inform land management, conservation planning, and species-at-risk strategies, and are also translated into practical resources such as bee identification guides.
What is the Bee Box Monitoring Program?
Another key initiative is the Bumble Bee Box Monitoring Program, which combines habitat creation with citizen science through the use of nesting boxes for bumble bees. These boxes provide potential nesting habitat while also functioning as monitoring tools, where participants report annual occupancy data. This helps us better understand bumble bee nesting behaviour, habitat preferences, and population trends across the province.
Boxes are installed in early spring, monitored from a distance through the season, and checked in the fall. Participants report whether a queen has moved in and a colony developed, and clean the box for the following year. “No occupancy” results are just as important for understanding habitat suitability. The program helps us track where bumble bees are successfully nesting and how populations are responding to different landscapes. It also engages landowners and communities directly in pollinator conservation, and we run building workshops to support it.
How is Frank Lake involved?
Frank Lake is an active participant in the Bumble Bee Box Monitoring Program by installing its own bee boxes on site. These boxes contribute directly to our provincial dataset while also supporting local bumble bee habitat. Each installed box becomes part of a widespread monitoring network, helping track occupancy and providing valuable insight into how managed and natural landscapes support native pollinators.
What is my role within the ANBC?
I am the Native Bee Stewardship Specialist with the Alberta Native Bee Council. My work combines entomological expertise with a strong focus on outreach and applied conservation. As part of my role I help support the monitoring program, develop educational resources, coordinate partner engagement, and translate research findings into practical actions that support native bees and their habitats across Alberta.
