3 Feet or 3 Miles

So it's been a week and a half since I installed the package and the weather was great for post installation. A few cloudy, cold, and even snowy, days made sure the bees stayed inside where it was warm and really just forced them to call this new box home.

During the sunny days last week I noticed that NE corner of my yard might not be the best place for them. My eastern neighbour has a very large tree which is causing that corner of the yard to be shaded until around 3pm in the afternoon.  This is really causing the bees to be quite lethargic, there isn't any active until the sun hits the hive, so I decided I temp fate by moving them across the yard....closer to crazy French lady.  This spot is much better suited for a few reasons, firstly the sun hits the hive now at about 10am and the girls love it.  Secondly, the large tree provides cover from the elements and causes the bees to fly up over our house when leaving.

Now apparently there's a saying when it comes to moving bees.  You either move them 3 feet or 3 miles.  I had moved them about 25 feet across the yard thinking there wouldn't be any issues.  The next day I was surprised to find that an ever larger group of foragers were flying back to the old hive location.   I wasn't really worried at first as they would slowly find the hive by flying in expanding spirals out from the old location, but when they started grouping up on the fence I started thinking I'd have to do something.  However, by that night all the bees had apparently found their way home.  Day 2 and then Day 3 have seen reduced number of bees returning to the old hive location, with everyone finding home by nightfall.  Things have naturally sorted themselves out, but it has been a very interesting experience.

Later this week I'll cover how all our pets have dealt with the new comers, come back soon!