I can't say that I am disappointed. We were fortunate to see it happen and it was very cool to see.
My hubby looked out the back window this morning around 11 a.m. and asked "is that normal" as he watched a massive cloud of bees flying above the hive. At first glance I thought it was normal. Last year on a hot summer day the bees would come out in what looked like a swarm but they were all just rushing out in the morning sun to get to work. This, of course, was different. The bees weren't directly above the hive, they were off to the side headed upward towards a large tree branch. When I took note of the number of bees and how closely they were flying to the trees I knew it was a swarm. I had to get outside with my video camera and document it.
I am so grateful that my swarm is about 30 feet in the air and not attached to the neighbors house (still crossing my fingers that they don't move that way). The neighbors dog was barking like crazy but it appears no one besides us noticed what all the hoopla was about.
I've called a local "experienced" beekeeper to come and take a look at the swarm. Maybe he can reach it and take it home. He, the expert, said something to me that rings very true. He said "a swarm is a blessing and a curse. On one hand you have helped a species continue on and on the other hand you lose the opportunity to extract honey." I'm ok with the no extracting honey part. I think it is more important that the bees survive. If what is left behind creates enough honey to be extracted, that will be a pleasant surprise, if they don't, well that is ok too. I just hope wherever the swarm settles that they flourish.
3 comments:
You didn't want to keep the swarm? Thats one way I get more hives. I love the way they look when they swarm so awesome!
Sam, I would have kept it if I could reach it but it was too high. I promised the beek coming out that he could have it if he could reach it. In the end it didn't matter because it disappeared 45 minutes later. I have no idea where it went, probably off into the woods behind our house.
I agree, to see them swarm is fascinating. I stood within the swarm as it was going, my daughter thought i was crazy, but they didn't even notice me. They were too busy swirling around headed up towards the tree.
Aww, it's bittersweet I guess, but an amzing part of nature to see!
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