Jess: Behind this noise is something you have to stop and wait to hear.

Within New York City's skyscraper rooftops, behind backyards and buzzing near my favorite flowers are our city's very own native bees.

We have Bumble, Mason, Carpenter, Leafcutter... the list just goes on.

They fly across the city, weaving from sidewalk gardens to window box planters to flowering trees in front of my sidewalk corner bodega.

New York City's diversity doesn't just stop at people and culture.

We live amongst over 200 bee species.

These creatures, small yet mighty, pollinate over half the flowers spanning over the five boroughs.

I'm a young beekeeper and the president of my university's beekeeping club.

Needless to say that these creatures buzz around my mind all year long.

This is a Brooklyn bound 2 express train.

The next stop is Fulton Street.

Stand clear of the closing doors, please.

I got my start beekeeping by caring for two hives behind the Weeksville Heritage Center museum in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

While my main focus was caring for the bees, I couldn't help but notice the culture that flowed throughout the neighborhood, and the mere fact that these hives were situated behind the historally preserved homes built within one of the first free Black communities in the 19th century.

This is Queens bound R train The next stop is 28th Street.

I also found myself introduced to two hives behind another historical house in Flushing, Queens.

Honey bees and birds dance around the garden of the Voelker Orth Museum.

The 19th century house was once a home of a middle class German immigrant family, and serves as a time capsule of their lives and culture.

And now, later in the spring I'll be beekeeping at the Alice Austen House Museum, situated in Staten Island.

This museum gives us a look into pre-Stonewall LGBTQ+ history within New York City.

[... until the ferry has come to a complete stop at the terminal.]

One of my favorite parts about New York City is the incredible inclusivity.

I see New York's diversity as a beautifully crafted mosaic, like the ones I see down in the subway.

With each tile being different cultures, immigrant communities, enclaves, cultural fusions, and newer unique innovations.

The next stop is Classon Avenue.

I'm now here with my beekeeping club to talk about the impact beekeeping has had on us, as New York City students.

Can you tell me about your favorite pollinators or bees?

Alva: I'd say my favorite bees are probably just bumble bees.

They are a more common variant in New York City.

You don't really see... Jess: And they are native to New York.

Alva: ...say they're pretty helpful.

I see them all the time in the flowers, and gardens, and like, in front of public schools even.

Cause other pollinators that immediately come to mind are wasps.

You don't really quite think of them as pollinators, just as pests honestly, they're kind of scary.

They definitely do their work.

They pollinate I'm sure.

Jess: In my opinion, beekeeping is one of the prime examples of humans working alongside our surroundings.

If you've ever wondered who to thank for the beautiful flowering plants blooming throughout Central Park, or the fresh vegetables from Union Square Farmers Market, thank the native bees.

New York City continues to be one of the most culturally diverse cities.

Additionally, within just these five boroughs, we house over 7000 species of plants and animals.

Despite our urban landscape, it's important we care for the variety of creatures who provide for us, no matter how small they are.