So the weather has been quite variable as of late, swinging from 5°C to -20°C in a matter of days. However, a week of above zero temperatures was a great excuse to go out and see the bees. Hopefully some of the drifts had melted away allowing easy access to the hives.
When we arrived we noticed that Mario had managed to get his tractor out to the bee yard, making the trek so much easier. I was concerned to see that the city had already begun moving and grading dirt onto Mario's land. Mario's acreage is quickly being encroached on by developers and they approached him with a proposal to put all the top soil removed from their sites onto his land. At first I was concerned, but Mario said they are going to grade it properly and then in spring it will be covered in Alfalfa by the farmer who he leases the land to. It's a win win for Mario and the bees.
The hive was buzzing with activity in the warm sunny day. The bees were obviously happy to get out and stretch their wings, not to mention use the washroom. Most people don't know that bees will not defecate in the hive, so they can only relieve themselves when the weather permits. This was blatantly apparent with all the patches of yellow spots that littered the snow drifts in front of the hive. A good note for any urban beekeepers is to make note of which way your hive is aimed as I hear bee poop isn't the easiest of things to clean off, say, a car or patio furniture.
Unfortunately, on a sadder note, the good weather also means that newer born bees will also take the opportunity to get out of the hive. Without the proper flight skills they often end up landing on the snow which will slowly, if not surely, kill them. I was touched to see that when Mario came out to greet us, he took time to pick up some of these nurse bees and attempt to sheppard them into a hive. An extremely touching gesture akin to those baby duck videos that litter YouTube. If there is anything that can swing a person's mind as to the "voraciousness" of bees, it would seeing 2 grown men herding baby bees back home.
A nurse bee soaking up the rays on my finger, she did eventually take flight.
I had intended to remove the entrance reducer and using a bent coat hanger clear out the bottom of the hive of dead bees, however Mario had so thoroughly wrapped my hive it would have been very difficult to get it off. Also, there was much more activity than I was expecting and with the snow drifts around the hive there was no easy way to gain access without sticking my head right next to the top entrance. Without a veil that situation could be precarious. It appeared that the bees were doing a good job of cleaning the hive themselves though as all around the hive lay the bodies of fellow bees, it is quite astonishing how many bees die during the cold winter months.
We are starting to get into the spring prep months so check back soon for new posts on the activities I will be doing. These include building a top bar hive, making spring feed, and possibly even making my own pollen patties. Until next time, bee cool.