The Beekeeper's Diary

A call from the west county took me near Tomales…a cold, windy day. The sun was out and the wind was whipping around 30 miles an hour. I knew if I found the bees they would NOT be happy. Sure enough, I found them about 300 yards off the road and had to climb a fence, wade through starthistle and push back blackberry brambles…not an easy trek. Later I learned another beekeeper saw it and turned it down…no wonder! It was HUGE! about 3 feet across and about 3 inches deep! A virtual carpet of honeybees.

Here is a short video that I uploaded to youtube and it shows how happy the girls were when I offered them a box full of old frames…they literally fall over themselves trying to get into the box! I must say I was lucky that I had two extra swarm boxes with me…normally I carry only one. It took over 2 hours to get them into the three boxes…
I have reboxed the swarm, already pulled 3 frames of bees to help other hives…planning on pulling honey from them soon and a split is in the works! All in all, I have to say…a big swarm is a healthy swarm!

Well this week has been absolutely crazy. With swarm calls daily and several extractions to set up, I can hardly find time to blog. I will say that 4 colonies have moved into existing empty boxes. Don’t you remember what I said about setting out “trap” hives? Well now you know why! If I am getting swarms into MY equipment, that means the idea is sound and all you have to do is be patient…maybe this year, maybe not. I have sites that I have had bees at for years…that means it attracts bees annually. All I have to do is keep empty boxes there and yes, every year (almost) I get swarms

Even if you get a call for a swarm in a bush…remember…they only want a home. Give them what they want and they will come!

I recently nabbed a large swarm and boxed them at the hive. They seemed fine until the next day when I looked to find almost 3/4 of them gone! I did have another batch that I added to them and finally a new queen but it is always disappointing to find them moved on!

Don’t let this happen if you can help it! Add a frame of brood and watch them anchor down immediately! If you don’t have any brood when you catch a swarm try and lift a frame from an earlier swarm….sometimes all you need is the smallest amount!

We now have a new YOUTUBE account with lots of videos…some fun, some neat…and some really educational.
Check them out and pass on any comments…we would like to know who watches and which ones!

I generally give all swarm catchers/beekeepers to ALWAYS keep your swarm box in your car…and what good is it without your bee suit? I have personally driven up on swarms…I have chased swarms…You never know when you will need one.

BUT….if you don’t have the equipment…YOU WILL KICK YOURSELF!!!

Got 4 swarms so far…including 2 on the same tree! Both doing well and seem happy here in Sonoma county. I have new videos and new photos on facebook as well as youtube!

We will be adding new markets this year.

Thursdays we are in Cotati’s Farmers Market
Friday we are in Occidental Farmers Market
Saturday we are in Marinwood, Marin County
Sunday we will be in Glenn Ellen Farmers Market
Tuesday we are in Petaluma until 1:30 and then Navato until 8 pm

We have begun our second batch of nucs…hopefully we won’t run out and have to turn to other beekeepers to take up the overflow…but we shall see how the season progresses…it has been unseasonably warm and very little rain…so we shall see

WCC Bloomfield Bees

download and enjoy the photos and description of the event