Author Topic: Prodigious Red Oak Bee Tree (Read 21766 times)

blueblood · « **on:** April 03, 2014, 07:57:22 pm »

This was a post from last August when I was asked to help contain bees in this large oak while they cut it down. The actual felling did not happen until October 22nd. It was too late to cut them out. So, I opened up a small hole in the mesh and let them go. I was asked to remove the bees as they are about ready to finish taking the tree down soon. I told them I would cut them out this Saturday or Sunday. They also want me to remove the bees in an old firehouse that is just 200 feet to the north of the tree.

Today, April 3rd, 2014, I took a short video of the activity at the tree. Our temp was 68 today. This was around 6pm. I would like some input from you all as to where you theorize the bees to be and a plan of action. I am thinking they are to the right top of the entrance hole. My plan of action was to carefully chainsaw a large rectangle area like a door around the entrance and pull it off. Maybe attach a handle or two on the rectangle for an easier pull away?

Good Morning! Well, received a call as a result of being listed as an IBA member which has handsomely produced similar perks. So, met with the contractor of the small town to discuss an action plan. This ole gent of a tree will need to come down to avoid impending destruction of two homes under its shadow. The tree guys estimate 400 years old, I estimate 264 years using the TREE AGE FORMULA: DIAMETER IN INCHES AT CHEST HIGH/4.5 FEET (OR CIRCUM/3.14) = DIAMTER X GROWTH FACTOR. 66" X 4.0 = 264 The tree appears to have been two trees so that variable is beyond my comprehension. The bees most likely moved in around the first week of June. I am 5'-11" which equates, roughly to my arm span. I was standing a few feet in front of the tree which makes the tree seem smaller in the background. But, when I was back to the tree on the opposite side, my span matched the diameter of the tree.

I proposed to place a #8 mesh over the entrance late night before or early morning of the topping. The tree guys will be safer from stings. Next, we hope to cut down the trunk and stop above the colony. If we cut into it, I can place plywood over it. Finally, the trunk is welcome to stay put until next spring and I will trap it out or take the contractor up on his offer to help cut the trunk open. The beauty part is, the owner and contractor want the bees to be as safe as possible! I just don't see how it would be possible to take this whole trunk to my house considering it's size. I will update this thread as things move along.

rcannon · « **Reply #1 on:** April 03, 2014, 08:17:30 pm »

That is a whopper. Should be a fun job. I'm interested to see what's inside.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #2 on:** April 03, 2014, 08:56:16 pm »

I opted to take the tree off above the cavity first. ran an eye bolt in it, cut it off at the bottom and had them use the liftall to set it on my trailer. Then I opened it at home with two cuts and removed the bees. It was a lot easier than working from a ladder, and the folks that were taking down the tree were mightily relieved to see the whole thing go away in one piece..

If taking the whole thing down is not an option, then your option is probably the best one available... It always terrifies me when running a chain saw into the cavity.. thinking of the bees on the receiving end of the blade.

G3farms · « **Reply #3 on:** April 03, 2014, 09:07:42 pm »

That is a huge tree. Be extra careful when cutting into it, those things weigh a ton (maybe a couple) and could pin or crush you very easily.

blueblood · « **Reply #4 on:** April 03, 2014, 09:51:06 pm »

Thanks G, I will be careful. I was more worried about the poison ivy. I react horribly to it. I will be working right in the middle of the tree and if anything starts cracking I would think it would be either fork falling left or right. I am looking forward to seeing what is behind there.

G3farms · « **Reply #5 on:** April 03, 2014, 10:10:53 pm »

Poison ivy I can handle fairly well, but poison oak gets in my blood stream most of the time and spreads everywhere. Smoke off of the burning leaves or vines will get ya also!!

blueblood · « **Reply #6 on:** April 05, 2014, 07:51:12 pm »

Took a truck load of things over I thought I would need. Started cutting high and then moved lower. I found their comb pretty much behind where they were coming and going. The void where they build the comb was about eight inches wide and fourteen inches tall. I was surprised to only find slightly old comb and a little patch of brood, larvae and what I believe to be a few eggs. The most bizarre thing was finding the very old wiffle ball right in the middle and between two combs. They were going in and out of it from one comb to the other. The ball must have fell in from the top of the fork years ago. The comb was so intertwined with roots/branches growing inside the cavity making it difficult to pull the comb out. I placed a box near the tree. I observed a concentration of bees on one are of the box where a ton of fanning was going on. I don't remember shaking the queen in there but I guess it's possible. I was also curious if anyone has ever had a queen fly out and land on the top frames? I would think that is a long shot. Well, I if she isn't in there, I will pay attention this week to see if they do anything with the eggs. I put them in a nuc and retrieved them at a few hours later. I found all the bees in the nuc and none of them in their old cavity. I was seeing fanning when I brought them home too. The videos are not the most exciting but I tried to at least document some of it.

iddee · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2014, 08:04:53 pm »

Ya reckon ya smoked'em enuff, Bubba??

Other than that, nice job. Looked like fun.

blueblood · « **Reply #8 on:** April 05, 2014, 08:28:29 pm »

Ha! Yes Iddee. Most of the bees were out of the cavity. I was trying one last ditch effort to smoke her out in case she was hiding somewhere deep. It was fun and I am a heavy smoker (not cigarette

) thought...ain't no denying that. I came home and cut open the last tree bee tree home. I was not as impressive. I put their nuc next to this one hoping they would migrate over. I gave the oak tree bees a frame of honey I saved back. It is nice having some capped honey frames set back for just these occasions. I have a tote full of them.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2014, 08:30:59 pm »

Well done Blue. I can't say I have ever found a whiffle ball. Should have saved it and called it Bee art.

did you save any of the pieces of chamber to make into home deco?

riverbee · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2014, 09:07:57 pm »

wow bb! one massive red oak! thanks for the video, and pix!!!

G3farms · « **Reply #11 on:** April 06, 2014, 01:57:06 pm »

Is that a bee bridge i see in the video

where did you get that from

It takes a TON of smoke to get the queen to move out of a hive, she will be in the last of them to leave.

Good job!

efmesch · « **Reply #12 on:** April 06, 2014, 04:52:03 pm »

I wonder if the chain saw didn't have something to do with "convincing" the queen to move out. Not having expected your intrusion, she hadn't been prepared to take a long flight and landed at the closest resting place.
Whatever the case, I'd give you ten to one that she's moved inside the nuc. The fanniing is a sure sign that she's there.
They couldn't have taken up residence with a nicer, more worthy beekeeper. Hopefully, they'll reward you handsomely over the summer.
Enjoy them.

blueblood · « **Reply #13 on:** April 06, 2014, 08:12:48 pm »

Quote from: G3farms on April 06, 2014, 01:57:06 pm

Is that a bee bridge i see in the video where did you get that from
It takes a TON of smoke to get the queen to move out of a hive, she will be in the last of them to leave.
Good job!

You get the bridge credit for sure

. Well, as for the smoke, that is why I was hitting it so hard. I figured she ran all the way back. I either killed her, buried her in with debris from the top of the fork that fell down, she was small and didn't see here when I shook her, or she fell on the ground and I stepped on her. I went back this morning to see if there were any bees clumped up with her. I saw one lonely bee. I placed some extra eggs in the nuc with them today along with what they had from the tree for insurance.

blueblood · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2014, 08:16:14 pm »

Thanks Ef, I am humbled. I guess the chainsaw could have caused her to fly out. I didn't think to look farther than the immediate area of the tree. I thought it would be awfully lucky if she found the box from the tree. I will tell you though, the bees started amassing on the box quicker than I thought they would, within minutes actually of cutting the tree.

blueblood · « **Reply #15 on:** April 06, 2014, 08:22:37 pm »

I placed a little patch of comb with eggs in each of the nucs. I think the oak tree nuc (blue) has a greater chance than the Maple tree fork nuc (orange) because there aren't but a cup of bees or so in it. But, I may be surprised. We shall wait and see. I took a macro of the comb with eggs. It is below the vid.

blueblood · « **Reply #16 on:** April 09, 2014, 07:57:15 pm »

I placed a small patch comb with eggs in the prodigious oak tree nuc on April 5th. The eggs were from my favorite, most honey productive colony. I couldn't resist checking on the nuc today, the 9th. They were certainly busy working on the patch with what appears like a full on queen cell and either a couple of queen cups and/or beginnings of queen cells nearby. I could see nurse bees sticking their head in to feed the queen cell. It was pretty cool to watch. I took some pics and a video to share with you. Oh, and I shook the handful of bees from the orange nuc in the yard. They were a remnant of the maple tree fork that was in my front yard.

Perry · « **Reply #17 on:** April 09, 2014, 08:06:27 pm »

You have left me far behind in the dust when it comes to catching swarms, doing cut-outs and trap-outs buddy. Next time I have to do one, I'll be referring to your threads on the subject.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #18 on:** April 09, 2014, 08:21:13 pm »

I agree Perry. I think Blue is the new GO TO man for questions!!!

blueblood · « **Reply #19 on:** April 09, 2014, 08:28:01 pm »

Thanks Perry, I am humbled. I had good mentors in all of you folks. You all have been with me my entire journey. Shoot, I used a that small piece of comb with eggs because I remember Iddee telling me once that just a quarter size piece of comb with eggs would work. Well, it worked!