"Sentinel Apiary Program" presentation by ERIC MALCOLM

The Sentinel Apiary Program was started by Bee Informed Partnership as a citizen science program. Part education, part data collection; Sentinel aims to gather data from the same colonies throughout the year, informing scientists and researchers of important trends and reason for colony loss.
MCBA provides a partial sponsorship for a limited number of MCBA member-participants to lower the cost barrier so our members can participate in this important program. This also helps us understand what trends in our specific region. We hope additional MCBA members can participate.
This short presentation will explain the Sentinel Apiary Program, and what we're learning from the 3 MCBA member's Sentinel hives: Varroa seasonal trends, Nosema ceranae loads, and more. We'll talk about what those data tell us and how different management activities can help reduce your losses.

Take Aways:
1. Understanding the Sentinel Apiary Program.
2. How you can participate (at a discount!)
3. Specific management guidance based on this hyper local data

Eric Malcolm's Bio:
Eric started his adventures in beekeeping in 2017. Now he owns and operates Backyard Apiaries LLC, an apiary management service that focuses on keeping healthy bees for non-beekeepers. Eric works at the UMD Bee Lab, UMD Bee Squad helping to expand the program, at Bee Informed Partnership, where he coordinates Fundraising, Outreach and Communications, and on developmental projects. Eric is currently MCBA's vice president.

Fun Fact: I have played piano since I was 8 years old. I sing, play a number of wind instruments, and taught myself how to play the ukulele during COVID.