Bumblebees have been an essential part of my life for quite some time! I cannot exactly recall how it started, or why. But I do remember for example my older sister coming into the basement, asking me what I was doing (I must have been 14 at the time) and when I told her that I was building my first bumblebee nest box she threw her hands in the air in despair that she of all her friends had to be the one with the lunatic brother.

Luckily her opinion has changed and while I am still very much thrilled by bumblebees, in my current work environment people chasing insects and crawling over the floor, their face full of bliss and excitement are the norm rather than the exception (actually, come to think of it, in our family it way my sister who was the exception anyways with both my parents being scientists as well, even if only my mother was a biologist with the mandatory beetle collection).

Me catching a bumblebee

Long story short, bumblebees have continued to be a part of my life and have thus extended into the lives of my new family as well (funnily my brother-in-law is a biologist as well and is currently in the process of trying to develop bumblebee nest boxes which actually work). So starting with early hiccups in our relationship being ironed out by me ignoring them, jumping up and chasing a bumblebee overjoyed, the admiration for bumblebees has now infested the little one who before even having reached her second birthday, says bumblebee at least 500 times a day (plusminus). She also looks in every hole she can find and tries to find bumblebee nests and collects plants for foraging and carries them to the (assumed) bumblebee nest to make sure they don’t have to fly too far for a decent meal.

Where is this all going now?

Well, on the 23rd of April, there is the international book day, as initiated by the UNESCO, and just like last year we are giving away a book for free! This year, we are giving you an advance warning, in order for you to make a note in your calendar and make sure that you will be attending this blog on the 23rd and participate in the competition, as this year we will be giving out a free copy of

“A Sting in the Tale”, by Prof. Dave Goulson. A book review by me will follow in the days to come.

Also I should mention, that it is not just any copy, but Prof. Goulson agreed to send us a signed copy, making this a preposterously invaluable price that you might call your own!

Best of luck to all of you and stay tuned for the review telling you why you need this book  (additionally to the above mentioned possibility of bumblebees saving your relationships)

Karsten

Ps: For those who are interested in the initiative: http://bloggerschenkenlesefreude.de/