Upward bound

My name is Helga Hummel, and here I stand, surrounded by the bustling activity of my family, in the midst of yet another move. We bumblebees long for stability, tired of packing our things over and over again. We have left our former home, idyllically situated at the foot of the mountain, behind us. The familiar meadows and fields are now just memories. Now we have climbed high up, always following the flowers with their sweet nectar, which have migrated from our old home to cooler mountain regions.

Even my thick fur shows that I feel uncomfortable in a climate that is too warm. The heat makes us sluggish and makes collecting nectar difficult. Leaving our hometown was a necessary and painful step, but up here, where the air is thinner, we additionally feel the changes. Sometimes the flowers begin to bloom even before we awaken from our winter sleep, forcing us to adjust our annual rhythms. Our familiar patterns are dissolving.

I miss my friends, the black-shouldered shieldbugs and the red-barbed ants, with whom I spent so many wonderful moments. Their company enriched my everyday life. But they could not accompany us on this long journey. And now, as I wonder what awaits us further up the mountain, I see with horror that there are only barren scree slopes. A disturbing thought: Where will the flowers and plants take root if temperatures continue to rise? Where can we go if there is no place left that offers us a home?

Despite all these worries, a spark of hope sprouts within me. Perhaps up here we will find new friends and together discover a way to exist in this changed world. Nature has an amazing ability to adapt, and we are part of this community. Together we will explore new paths and perhaps even find a place where we can finally stay.