The Joy of Storytelling and the Magic of Bees

Storytelling is such an important part of childhood.  It sparks imagination, fosters connection, and imparts lessons that stay with us for a lifetime.  For me, the magic of storytelling began with the birth of my son.  From the very first day he came home from the hospital, books became a cornerstone of our bonding time.  Born in Vancouver, Canada, he was welcomed into the world with a pack of children’s books, a thoughtful gift from the Canadian Government to all new born children at the time.  From classics like The Gruffalo and The Hungry Caterpillar to Possum Magic and Pig the Pug, we’ve read and re-read thousands of stories together over the years.  Perhaps it was these cherished moments that inspired my passion for creating stories of my own.

When I launched my early years program, it felt like the perfect time to write my very own children’s book. Naturally, it had to be about bees!  The result was The Bee Bop Waggle Dance, a whimsical tale that introduces children to the fascinating world of bees through the eyes of a lovable character named Jazzy.

The Bee-Bop Waggle Dance Book, by Friends with Honey

Meet Jazzy and Her Waggle Dance Adventure

Jazzy is a worker bee at Honey Headquarters, where she loves to watch her sisters perform their waggle dances.  But when Jazzy tries to dance herself, her knees freeze, and she struggles to share her adventures. The waggle dance is a crucial part of bee communication, as it helps bees direct their hive-mates to where the best flowers grow.  Jazzy’s story unfolds when she discovers a magnificent sunflower and becomes determined to tell her sisters where to find it.  With the help of the creatures on my farm - a gecko, a praying mantis, some chickens, and even my lazy bulldog - Jazzy embarks on a journey of self-discovery and courage.

While The Bee Bop Waggle Dance is a charming fantasy, it’s rooted in real-life bee behavior. The story teaches children about emotions, perseverance, self-belief and the joy of overcoming obstacles.  It’s a tale that resonates with young readers as they cheer for Jazzy and learn valuable life lessons along the way.

The Real Life Lazy Bulldog - Gus

Bringing the Story into Real Life

Reading this book to children is always a great joy.  Designed for ages 3-7, it captures their imaginations while introducing them to the world of bees.  After reading, I love to engage children in a conversation about how they can help bees in real life.  Planting flowering plants is a simple yet impactful action, and I often bring sunflower seeds for the class to plant.  Together, we imagine a day when their sunflowers bloom, and bees like Jazzy come to visit.

Bees Visiting Some Real Life Sunflowers

Friends with Honey Bee Incursion Program

If you’re an early years educator seeking to captivate your class with the magic of bees, consider booking a Friends with Honey Bee Incursion. Tailored for kindergarten and preschool children aged 3-7, this one-hour program is an energetic blend of singing, dancing, and storytelling.  Of course, it features The Bee Bop Waggle Dance as a central highlight.

Through this interactive experience, children not only learn about bee behavior but also develop a deeper appreciation for these incredible pollinators. They’ll discover how they can contribute to creating a bee-friendly environment, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship from a young age.

Let’s Inspire the Next Generation of Nature Stewards

Whether through storytelling, planting sunflower seeds, or dancing like Jazzy the bee, every small step helps children connect with nature and understand the importance pollinators in our ecosystem.

Ready to bring this buzzing adventure to your classroom? Contact Friends with Honey today to book your Bee Incursion Program and join the Bee Bop Waggle Dance.  Together, let’s inspire the next generation of Nature Stewards to protect and cherish our pollinator friends!

An Insect with a Superhero Name: Meet the Hercules Robber Fly

Flies often get a bad rap in Australia.  On a warm, sunny day, they seem to be everywhere. Walk around a farm, and you might find yourself hosting a small island of flies hitching a free ride on your back. Annoying?  Absolutely.  But as much as we might swat and swear at them, flies play an incredibly important role in our environment.  They’re the unsung heroes of nutrient recycling, predation, and parasitoid activity.  And believe it or not, they’re the second most significant pollinator species after bees!  Perhaps it’s time we re frame flies as superheroes of the insect world.

Neoaratus hercules - a member of Robber Flies Family Asilidae

The Day Hercules Visited

A few months ago, while installing solar panels near our shed, I heard a deep, droning buzz – a sound that can make even the bravest among us pause.  Moments later, I spotted the source: a massive insect perched on one of the panels.  Naturally, I grabbed my phone, took a photo, and uploaded it to my iNaturalist account.  The verdict?  I had encountered none other than the Hercules Robber Fly. How cool is that?  A fly with a name straight out of a comic book!

The Hercules Robber Fly is aptly named. Hercules, the legendary hero of Greek and Roman mythology, was renowned for his strength and bravery in battling ferocious animals and monsters.  Similarly, this insect is a giant among flies, measuring up to 4 centimeters in length. For comparison, a European honeybee worker is a mere 1.5 centimeters long.  Hercules Robber Flies are not just impressive in size; they’re also fearsome predators, earning their "robber fly" status through their aggressive hunting tactics. These flies ambush their prey mid-flight, targeting other insects – including honeybees. No wonder they seem to enjoy hanging around our farm!

European Honey Worker Bee - only about 1.5 cm in length

A New Perspective

Since learning more about the Hercules Robber Fly, I’ve stopped feeling quite so terrified when I see one. Instead, I marvel at their role in maintaining ecological balance. They may have a fearsome reputation, but they’re also vital players in the ecological balance on our farm.

Become a Citizen Scientist

If this story has sparked your curiosity about the natural world, why not dive deeper? Our Citizen Science Workshop offers an exciting opportunity to explore and record biodiversity in your local area. You’ll learn to use tools like iNaturalist to document species and contribute to conservation efforts. Whether you’re a seasoned nature enthusiast or a curious beginner, this program will inspire you to see the world with fresh eyes and make a meaningful impact on our planet.

Spot the Native, Spot the Feral: Observing Biodiversity and Learning from History

When I was a kid, I absolutely loved hidden object games. I might be showing my age here, but the original games were cluttered illustrations with a list of objects to find by scanning the picture. I relived this love again when my son was about six, and we spent hours searching for the elusive boy in a red-and-white-striped jumper in "Where’s Wally?". Now, one of my favorite things to do on our farm is to scan the landscape for hidden creatures. I know they’re there; it’s just a matter of observation — a skill I’ve honed over time.

A few weeks ago, I was walking through a particular part of our farm when I spotted a beautiful native icon — an eastern short-beaked echidna. When I went to take its photograph for my iNaturalist account, I noticed another creature hiding in the landscape: an iconic feral species - a rabbit. I posted this picture on the Field Naturalist’s Club of Victoria Facebook page as a fun challenge: “Spot the native, spot the feral.” The post received some great comments and interaction, but the sad thing is that feral species like rabbits are often far easier to find, and they wreak havoc on the landscape. Wherever there’s suitable soil for digging warrens, you’ll find rabbits.

Spot the native, spot the feral - it's a biodiversity challenge!

Domesticated rabbits arrived in Australia with the First Fleet, and the first feral rabbit population was reported in Tasmania as early as 1827. On mainland Australia, an English Grazier, Thomas Austin freed about a dozen rabbits on his property, Barwon Park Mansion near Geelong in Victoria, in 1859 as game for shooting parties. In 2022, a study of genomic data confirmed that Australia’s feral rabbit population was entirely descended from the rabbits introduced by Austin!

It’s devastating to see the damage rabbits have caused, even on our small property. The most visible impact is the large warrens they build, which lead to soil erosion. They also graze on native grasses, resulting in plant biodiversity losses in some areas.

I don’t have any definitive answers to the rabbit problem on our farm. Local farmers have been waging a war on rabbits for decades. However, understanding how just a dozen rabbits multiplied into a nationwide issue reminds me how history can teach us vital lessons about protecting biodiversity. It also highlights how the actions of one person can have far-reaching impacts on native wildlife.

When I spot native flora and fauna on our farm, I often think about what they must endure to survive in such a competitive environment. I also reflect on what I can do to ensure they have a thriving habitat. Thankfully, for the eastern short-beaked echidna, our farm provides plenty of hollow logs and anthills. These anthills are vital because echidnas use their sticky, saliva-covered tongues, which can extend up to 17 cm, to slurp up ants and termites.

While feral species like rabbits pose challenges, they also serve as a reminder to me of the importance of preserving and protecting native biodiversity on our farm.

An iconic Australian Native - the Eastern Short-beaked Echidna

Citizen Science School Incursion Program

If you’re intrigued by the idea of exploring and recording biodiversity in your local area, have a look at my Citizen Science Workshop. This workshop is designed to inspire and empower participants to use tools like iNaturalist to document and contribute to conservation efforts. Whether you’re a seasoned nature enthusiast or a curious beginner, this is a fantastic opportunity to deepen your understanding of the natural world while making a meaningful impact.