Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees => Topic started by: LazyBkpr on June 05, 2014, 04:50:25 pm
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Swarm calls are coming in, I am prepared. My gear hits the truck and I am gone in less than 5 minutes.. Every time I arrive to find the swarm gone.. Got a call today, not far away, was there in under five minutes,, pulled in, see them in the tree and think... Finally...
Unload my gear, grab the ladder, and stand there with a dumb look on my face as they take to the air and vanish over the trees...
I can only guess, that with so many hives perishing last winter that there are plenty of available locations to go, so they dont have to hang out waiting while the scouts find a good place.... So far, Bees 5 me 0. Thank goodness for cut outs.
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Daaang! I thought my bees were flighty ~
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I did not get many swarm calls this year but the cut out calls are just now starting.
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Been slow on swarm calls here. Been getting a few cutout calls almost all are bee trees.
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Want me to send you one of my queens? I still have two swarmy beauties
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I've caught 3 swarms so far. One call, and I found 2 of them.
They were all mine. :-[ :-[ :-[
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I was talking to a local keep today about this. He has only had one call. I have only found a few of the 8 so far that have been actual calls. Otherwise, It is has been my own yard and a swarm trap. Oh, and one in a yard I help manage in an orchard. We think the winter was really tough on them.
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Same on this side of the states. The keep that is in town here has only caught 5, two were mine, one was his, and the other two were on the same house as last year. Pretty dry pickins
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" So far, Bees 5 me 0."
that's murphy for ya eh scott ?!.............. :D
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Our cemetary and our largest park w/lake gets swarms, beeks do drive by's on two trees that usually have plenty of swarms, haven't heard much this year :sad:
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Just got a call about a cut out.. I'll go appraise it Monday evening..
There are two types of people.. those who have called for other appraisals, and those who want them done for nothing. If they called some of the other folks nearby that do removals I will get the job, if they want them removed for free they better be easy to access and close to home.
I want the bees, so working hard to make sure I get the cut outs this year. I have usually nabbed a couple swarms by now.. I guess I am going to have to do some feeding this fall to insure strong feral hives for winter. The Old Bee tree at dads farm swarmed today.. Dad called so I went out to watch.. Convinced mom and dad to come stand in the swirling bees.. what a wonderful experience... but of course, they didnt land.. swirled for about 20 minutes, then coalesced and moved off toward the bottom... I'll go tomorrow and check my swarm traps down there to see if they decided to move into one of them.
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So in the last couple of days I have gotten about five calls for cut outs, and a few swarm calls.. I went and looked at a removal job from a barn.. shouldn't be too bad to do, will be heading out Thursday to do it.
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs21.postimg.cc%2Fvq64v3zc3%2FDSCF0492.jpg&hash=4fb2b17be6dd62bdf740e9920e924e152a3eac08) (http://postimg.cc/image/vq64v3zc3/)
Got another call while on the way back from that one, so went over to have a look.. I will probably do it either Friday or Monday.
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs27.postimg.cc%2Fqvsk2z6f3%2FDSCF0494.jpg&hash=7b0be73a97834ad23eefa4ef3f2fb4fe351f055a) (http://postimg.cc/image/qvsk2z6f3/)
So I am standing there talking to the owner of the house about the removal, he leans over, looking past me frowning...
"Hey! Is that a swarm in that bush?"
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs24.postimg.cc%2Fionpknqdt%2FDSCF0496.jpg&hash=57d38b873d4764b11a1c59be589a818e3dbf8280) (http://postimg.cc/image/ionpknqdt/)
Well... thats embarassing.. Mr. Professional Bee guy drives right past a swarm beside the road... :-[
Made a phone call to dad... 12 minutes later he arrives with the bee vac....
http://youtu.be/o7_g-E7RoVs
So now I think the score is Bees 5 LazyBkpr 1 ;D Go on Blue... Brag about those easy swarms now!!! heheheh
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Well, you broke the ice now the calls will start pouring in!!!
Nice catch, but why didn't you use a ladder? :D
Ed
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Wow, wish I was getting as many calls as you. Keep us posted on the cut outs. Tom
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great video scott! especially of the activity of the swarm itself and the waggle dancers! enjoyed!
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Hey Scott! Nice vid! :) and I saw the queen at the very beginning of the vid, right at the top of the screen, center of swarm, and she's heading down into the swarm, if you blink you'll miss her.
Nice to see you in a tshirt in the warm weather instead of your camo coat and boots with a sack of bee feed over your shoulder staring off into snow wonderland. Your time has arrived ;) 8)
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So now I think the score is Bees 5 LazyBkpr 1 ;D Go on Blue... Brag about those easy swarms now!!! heheheh
:laugh: Very good Scott! I liked the drive by lawn mower man there. Don't feel bad, I missed #9 the first time I walked in my yard. You have to scan like a deer.
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Better eyes than Mine Jaybird.. But that "IS" where I saw her emerge from the cluster several times, right where you are describing. If I had my clip i could have easily nabbed her.. but as usual I was completely un prepared and with my wifes truck.. so no queen clip hanging from my dogtags in that one.
Yeah Blue.. lots of people around, mowing yards etc, and not one of them noticed this little swarm.. The lady of the house came out to see why I was staring at her bush, ..... (Dont even go there) So I pointed out the queen to her.. she got pretty excited and started asking questions... then her husband came out to see who the strange guy was his wife was talking and laughing with... I averted a bit of a disaster by pointing out the queen again... I suppose if he was mad enough I could have thrown a handful of bees at him and ran :P
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Scott- "(Dont even go there)
Okay, I won't... today, I won't promise tomorrow tho. Too much bait for me to ignore :-[
Just came home from work, hot and tired, thanks for the laugh :D
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It's a tie ball game here in Sapulpa.
Bees 0
Bundy bee farm 0
I haven'teven got a chance to swing.
Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk
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Nice catch, but why didn't you use a ladder? :D
Lazy, I've shipped you some ice to ease the burn.
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Nice catch, but why didn't you use a ladder? :D
Lazy, I've shipped you some ice to ease the burn.
I could have laid my 12 footer beside it, but even laying down I figured falling off a 12 foot ladder was still falling off a 12 foot ladder.
ooooh.. Ice!! Thank you! I am always running out of ice for my drink!!!
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Hey Scott! Nice vid! :) and I saw the queen at the very beginning of the vid, right at the top of the screen, center of swarm, and she's heading down into the swarm, if you blink you'll miss her.
Watched the vid again tonight Jen.. I am somewhat astounded I did not see her. Great spot, she was cruising around that swarm like she had a mission the whole time I watched them. After watching the vid again.. shes RIGHT there in plain sight. Good eye!!!!
Cut out scheduled for tomorrow, my minion will be helping with it. With luck, we will get some good video and pictures. Another cut out scheduled for Friday. I may be doing that one alone, but will try to get some video of it as well. Wish me luck!
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Scott- "shes RIGHT there in plain sight. Good eye!!!!
Thanks! ;D I learn soo much from the vids. I would love to do a cut out sometime but I don't have the excess boxes and frames n'such.
Scott- "I may be doing that one alone, but will try to get some video of it as well. Wish me luck!
Always :) In case you haven't yet, try some of the propolis tincture just for grins ;) 8)
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... try some of the propolis tincture just for grins ;) 8)
I've seen you refer to this quite a bit, have read more than just your recipe, and several uses for it. What I don't understand is what happens to the smell of the alcohol? Does the propolis just overpower the evaporated alcohol? Do you use Everclear? It's illegal in Ma, but I live mighty close to the NH border... It's legal there ;)
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Everclear is illegal in Ma? Good Gravy that's rediculous!
Does the propolis just overpower the evaporated alcohol? Do you use Everclear? It's illegal in Ma, but I live mighty close to the NH border... It's legal there
Yes, the prop is very strong. And after it has cured for several weeks in the alcohol it's strong and mellow all at the same time. Ya know how when you pop the hive lid in the afternoon on a very warm day how that hive scent comes right up to your face. That's what you smell like when you buff it into your skin.
Yes I made mine with Everclear, but a high quality vodka would work just as well, here in Cali, Everclear is less expensive than vodka.
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i was still new at this and i didn't put my name on the swarm list at the bee club. but, if it wasn't for jb who keeps handing them over to me i wouldn't have any. the first swarm call i got from him is one of the best hives i have. took 4 frames of brood and did a walk away split. just waiting to see if queen hatches and comes back.