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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 16, 2018)
AUGUST 16, 2018 // 19 BOOKMONGER The long history and imperiled future of bees When my sister and I were young, our father in- culcated in us an easy sang- froid toward bee handling. It’s served me well. As a schoolgirl, I became the classroom hero more than once when an occasional bee blundered inside and buzzed frantically against a window. I knew how to cup it gently — with my bare hands — and release it outside. And with the rare sting- ing exception since then, I’ve worked harmoniously among bees in my garden through many seasons. So when I saw a new book come out recently with the title “Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees,” how could I resist? Written by Thor Han- son, a conservation biolo- gist based in the San Juan Islands, this popular history goes back 125 million years to trace the evolution of bees from their predatory waspish roots into the more than 20,000 species of pollen-eat- ing bees that exist today. Hanson reviews research that investigates the parallels between the rise of bees and flowering plants. He talks with anthropologists who are finding new evidence that human interaction with bees extends back into our prehistory. And he tours around the country to meet with bee scientists, work at “Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees” By Thor Hanson Basic Books 304 pp $27 bee research sites and visit projects that are restoring and enhancing bee habitat. Despite all the scientific research, Hanson writes in an accessible, chatty style. And when he gets back home, he studies bees in his wife’s island garden and down at the beach with the help of his young son. But make no mistake, this is serious business. Modern bees have been bedeviled by a series of setbacks in recent decades: first pesticides, then colony collapse disorder and now climate change. Even as Hanson was writ- COURTESY BASIC BOOKS The cover of Thor Hanson’s ‘Buzz: The Nature and Ne- cessity of Bees.’ At right, the author. ing this book, the first global assessment of pollinator populations was published as a collaborative effort by more than 80 bee experts worldwide. Their findings 100% Natural Blueberrie s Free for everyone to attend. Bring a lawnchair! 20% off all original paintings Watercolor Paintings Fine Art Prints • Framing Open Daily ‘til 6 pm Workshops Cranguyma Farms 2607 Bay Avenue, Ocean Park, WA • 360.665.5976 www.ericwiegardt.com $2.00 lb. 113th & Sandridge N. Long Beach, WA inaction from any of us at this point. “Common sense suggests that reduc- ing pressure from any of these stressors (the four Ps) will help” — for ordinary citizens, that could mean reducing pesticide use, providing landscapes with more bee nesting habitat and growing more plants that feed pollinators. “Buzz” provokes thought and promotes action. Let’s create a little buzz of our own for this book — and for the bees! The Bookmonger is Bar- bara Lloyd McMichael, who writes this weekly column focusing on the books, au- thors and publishers of the Pacific Northwest. Contact her at bkmonger@nwlink. YOUR #1 PREMIER CANNABIS RETAILER Live Demo August 18th • 2pm U-Pic k were sobering: “roughly 40 percent of species were con- sidered to be in decline or threatened with extinction.” And some species — including the Franklin’s bee in southwestern Oregon — already seem to have disappeared entirely. To varying degrees, Hanson notes, bee species are contending with “the four Ps”: parasites, poor nutrition, pesticides and pathogens. And given that anywhere from 33 percent to 90 per- cent (depending on which study you look at) of food in the human diet is dependent on pollinators, the bees’ problem quickly becomes our problem, too. So Hanson travels from alfalfa farms in eastern Washington to almond groves in California’s Central Valley to learn about the practices farmers are adopting to keep their bee populations healthy. And as one bumble- bee specialist emphasiz- es, there’s no excuse for Wiegardt Studio Gallery LARGEST SELECTION FRIENDLY & KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF ELITE PRODUCTS Ilwaco (8am - 10pm) 360-261-7200 133 Howerton Ave Cathlamet - NEW! Kelso (8am - 10 pm) (8am - 12am) 360-849-4504 360-636-0420 327 WA-4 820A West Side Hwy Longview (8am - 12am) 360-703-3229 971 14th Ave WARNING: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and over. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug.
