McMaster University recognizes that the University and surrounding Hamilton area, including their nature spaces, are situated on traditional territories shared between the Haudenosaunee confederacy and Anishnaabe nations. These lands are protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum belt. The wampum uses the symbolism of a dish to represent the territory, and one spoon to represent that the people are to share the resources of the land and only take what they need.
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Nature @ McMaster

Stop#8 – Whidden Hall

The eighth stop on the Bee Trail is outside the Whidden Hall Residence, where five native bee homes were installed in 2019 as part of the 100in1Day community event. The homes are constructed from pine wood and filled with paper tubes. They were set up by Facility Services and the Academic Sustainability Program’s Office to support native bee populations and promote sustainability. The installation aims to provide shelter for local pollinators.

 

Fun Fact:  Bees nest in many parts of a farm, from fields and grassy areas to edges of farm laneways. Ground-nesting bees build tunnels in the soil, while others, like mason bees, use hollow stems or small cavities in wood. (1)

 

Species Highlight: The blue orchard mason bees’ (Osmia lignaria) favorite food for their brood is fruit tree pollen plus some of their nectar. (2)

 

References:

  1. Chan S, Raine N. Introduction to Native Pollinators on Farms in Ontario [Internet]. Farms at Work. 2018. Available from: https://farmsatwork.ca/sites/default/files/Fact%20Sheet%20%231%20Introduction%20to%20Native%20Pollinators%20on%20Ontario%20Farms_1.pdf
  2. Moisset B, Wojcik V. Blue Orchard Mason Bee [Internet]. www.fs.usda.gov. Available from: https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/mason_bees.shtml