Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees => Topic started by: blueblood on May 23, 2015, 09:51:03 am
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Michael and Jennifer from the Gwenneville Swarm on the 10th of May called to advise they had a second swarm. It was a colder day so I was surprised the bees were swarming. Drove out yesterday morning early and bucketed them. They were super high in the tree, maybe 30 feet plus. I put my 8 foot ladder on my truck and then extended my bucket pole. I discovered that bees hold on very tight when its cold! You will see clumps of bees falling early in the video. I left nearly half of them on the branch and nuc box on the ground hoping they would migrate to it. I was sure I hurt the queen or she was still on the branch. I was surprised when Michael texted me near evening and said the bees had all gone in the box. I went back for them at dusk. I will check for a queen today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZAM8y_O75Q&feature=youtu.be
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Found the queen the next day! Unbelievable that she made it from 30ft to the nuc on the ground! She was a big ole girl too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2xnMGcoBlM&feature=youtu.be
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When you opened the nuc at about 6:29 in the first video, I thought I could smell the bees---so I went back for a replay and, what do you know----I smelled them again. Amazing what effect the eyes can have on the sense of smell. :o
That big beautiful queen in the second video looks like a virgin to me. Wait till she comes back from her mating flights and starts laying---she should be great. 8)