Archive for the ‘Videos’ Category

A Mother’s Day Swarm

Posted in Hives, Natural Beekeeping, Perone Hive, Swarms, Uncategorized, Videos, tagged , , , , , , , , on May 14, 2013| 5 Comments »

Bees, bees, bees

Bees, bees, bees

My daughter, son-in-law and new granddaughter were visiting us on Mother’s Day.  It was about noon, we were eating lunch…my wife spots this horde of bees.  “It’s a swarm!”  We all rush out to see it.  I think it probably came from the Warre hive that’s been threatening to swarm for over two weeks.  Son-in-law says, “What can I do to help you capture it?”  My wife says, “Oh, thank you, Jim, I didn’t want to have to do it.”

We let the bees coalesce on a branch.

A nicely shaped swarm

They settled down into a nicely shaped swarm about 12 feet (4 m) up.

This calls for the Steinkrauss-Morse swarm retriever

This calls for the Steinkrauss-Morse swarm retriever

A Bucket of Bees

A Bucket of Bees

"The queen is over here..."

“The queen is over here…”  Bee stick their abdomen up in the air to fan the pheromone letting stragglers know where the queen is.

It was a win, win, win.  My son-in-law, Jim Montgomery provided much needed assistance in corralling the swarm, my daughter was able to capture the whole event with the camera, and my wife was able to spend more time with our granddaughter.

Where did the bucket of bees go?  Well, I would have liked to put it into Bee-atrice log hive  because it’s a ‘prime’ swarm, but Bee-atrice was already occupied.  I found someone who didn’t want package bees.  He has built a Perone style hive.  It’s a BIG hive.  I like his attitude…”The Perone hive is built for the bees, not the bee keeper.  It’ll hold about 150,000 bees.  I’ll let them build their own comb.”  We arrange for the ‘hand-over,’ and meet at a very scenic state park along the Oregon Coast.

There are 17 top bars where the bees will build their comb.

Vernon built his own Perone hive.  He brought the framework holding 17 top bars where the bees will build their natural comb.  He held it up so we could see how big the hive will be.  In the background you can see why I wanted to live on The Oregon Coast.

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Tanging a Swarm…or Not?

Posted in Swarms, Videos, Warre Hive on May 7, 2013| 5 Comments »

5-6-13...at 10:40 am there is an audible humming...the bees are revving up already.

5-6-13…at 10:40 am there is an audible humming…the bees are revving up already.

I had heard about ‘tanging’ recently (banging a spoon on a cooking pot when bees start to swarm to get them to land close by and down low).  I tried it out three times last week and it seemed to work.  All three times were with one hive and all three times, the ‘swarm’ calmed down and went back into the hive after about 15 minutes.  That seemed to be proof beyond a doubt the tanging worked.  The third time I tried it out, I took video of it which can bee seen below…

On Saturday, May 4, they started in again about 10 or 11 am.  My wife was not happy that she was doing all the work in our veggie garden while I was happily shooting video on the bees, so the bees had to do their thing while I had to do my thing.  After 15 minutes of frenzied flying, they settled down again with no tanging.  So there goes my theory.

On Sunday they were fine.  On Monday they get all worked up again.  Seems like there are lots more.  I don’t have time to catch an impending swarm so I tang again to try to keep it close.

At 10-47, I start tanging to keep the swarm as close to home as possible.

At 10-47, I start tanging to keep the swarm as close to home as possible.

Temperature at 66 deg. F (less than 20 deg. C) They wouldn't be bearding, would they?

Temperature at 66 deg. F (less than 20 deg. C) They wouldn’t be bearding, would they?

At 11:02 more bees are flying out. Some are flying excitedly above the hive as well as crawling onto the side.

At 11:02 more bees are flying out. Some are flying excitedly above the hive as well as crawling onto the side.

At 11:05 there are quite a few on the front, but fewer are flying around and they are flying lower.

At 11:05 there are quite a few on the front, but fewer are flying around and they are flying lower.

At 11:07 they are definitely calming now and actually filing back into the hive.

At 11:07 they are definitely calming now and actually filing back into the hive.

At 4:38 pm, I checked on them again. Looks like they decided to stay on the outside.

At 4:38 pm, I checked on them again. Looks like they decided to stay on the outside.

I shot this video and sped it up in parts to keep it relatively short.  It was shot on May 3, so you can see the difference in the size of the ‘swarm,’ if it is a swarm…but if it isn’t, then what is it?

Starting the Tanging Experiment

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Adding ladders to a Warre and ‘Tanging’

Posted in Hives, Swarms, Videos, Warre Hive, tagged , , , , , on May 1, 2013| 9 Comments »

What to do if you need to add ‘ladders’ to your Warre box, but you don’t have any comb.  I don’t want to use any plastic foundation or anyone else’s comb.  So I’m using melted organic wax and painting it on posts hung from the top bars.  It worked last time so I feel confident it’ll work this time.

It doesn't take much wax, or much time to melt, so stick around when you do this.

It doesn’t take much wax, or much time to melt, so stick around when you do this.

It doesn't take much melted wax to coat bars and posts

Coating the bars and posts

These are how the t-posts will hang down once they are in the hive

These are how the t-post ladders will hang down once they are in the hive…trouble is I couldn’t remember if the bees build comb with less than 3/8 inch or more than 3/8 inch.

I started gathering the items together, went out to my bee hives and observed what looked like a swarm forming.  I grabbed the melting pot and spoon and started tanging.  Three days ago they headed back in when I tried tanging.  Maybe this time too, then I’ll add the extra box and maybe they’ll be happy.

At 10:07am It looks like a swarm is forming

At 10:07 am It looks like a swarm is forming on the hive I want to add the box to

Yep, a swarm is in the works...quick, get the wax melting pot and a spoon

At 10;11 am Yep, a swarm is in the works…quick, get the wax melting pot and bang on it with a spoon

At 10:15 am, it's still growing so I tang faster, wondering if I'm crazy

At 10:15 am, it’s still growing so I tang faster, wondering if I’m crazy

At 10:16 am, swarm bees are flying higher and higher

At 10:16 am, swarm bees are flying higher and higher

At 10:20 am, it almost looks like they are calming down

At 10:20 am, it almost looks like they are calming down

At 10:28 am after about 10-12 minutes of tanging, they are headed back in

At 10:28 am after about 10-12 minutes of tanging, they are headed back in

At 10-35 am, they are definitely headed back in

At 10:35 am, they are definitely headed back in

At 10-44, they've calmed down for today...what about tomorrow?

At 10:44 am, they’ve calmed down for today…what about tomorrow?

I've got to get a hive jack so I can do this right next time.

At 10:58 am I add the box with t-post ladders.  I’ve got to get a hive jack so I can do this right next time.

At 11-05 am, bees are crawling up t-post ladders already.

At 11:05 am, bees are crawling up t-post ladders already.

Day 3, the bees are still climbing the posts and a daisy-chain is visible.

More on tanging and video.

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Meet Bee-atrice…A Female Companion to Bee Beard

Posted in Hives, Log hives, Swarms, Videos, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 28, 2013| 10 Comments »

Bee-atrice is looking good.

Bee-atrice is looking good.  Okay, the yard sign on her head isn’t too flattering, but it was all I could come up with in a hurry.  We will fix that later.

 When Bee-atrice became aware of her beauty she developed a real attitude.  Her long golden hair, the color of the setting sun, a beauty mark on her face, and the fact that she was carved out of a hard wood by a professional wood carver made her vain.  In conversations, the iPod would always be pulled out to show how she was carved. She would tell people.  “I’m special.  I was carved out of myrtlewood which only grows on the Oregon Coast and in the Holy Land.”  We told her the brochures weren’t exactly true, myrtlewood also grew along the California Coast, and the kind in the Holy Land was a different variety.  She would counter with the fact that “Myrtlewood” is the only wood still in use as a base “metal” for legal tender,  “besides my mouth was carved ‘open’ so I can sing.”  I think she fashioned herself as some kind of diva or something.

We decided to place her near Bee Beard.   We just figured they’d hit it off because they had so much in common.  One look at Bee Beard and she realized her open mouth was carved to let bees pass in and out.  She was shocked and humiliated…stomped off in a huff. I couldn’t figure it out.  Bee Beard has never complained about anything, not even once.  He’s been through a whole year of wind, rain, and bees.   It’s true we’ve never smoked him or bothered him much, I just figured Bee-atrice would be the same.  Not so…“I don’t want to be next to him and I don’t like bamboo.  It attracts wasps. “  We ended up promising her a one of a kind Easter hat and face her into the sun so it could shine on her beautiful golden hair.  She gave in to the flattery, but there was no way she would agree to be near Bee Beard or even to look at him.

The bees first couple of nights were spent here in the upper corner of log.

The bees first couple of nights were spent here in the corner of log.

I've always wanted to note the temperature of the hive.

I’ve always wanted to note the temperature of the hive.

I'm surprised this is only 83 F (28 C) I wish I could see inside better, but I'll have to wait until the combs are visible in the observation window.

I’m surprised the temp is only 83 F (28 C) I wish I could see inside better, but I’ll have to wait until the combs are visible in the observation window.

A short video show bees already bringing in pollen on Day 6

Bee-atrice gets a bonnet

The start of the project

Bee-atrice…the Carving

Preparing Bee-atrice Log Hive for Prime Time

Hal started it all

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What is This Mason Bee doing?

Posted in Mason Bees, Natural Beekeeping, Videos, tagged , , , on April 23, 2013| 3 Comments »

Mason bee covered in yellow pollen, sticking out of nest block

Mason bee covered in yellow pollen, sticking out of nest block

I check the bees occasionally, but usually at this time of night, they are all tucked into their nest tubes, so it was surprising to me to see this pollen covered bee sticking out.  Does anyone know what’s going on?

I shot this short video so you could see what I’m talking about.

This year’s start…

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Sedum for September Bees

Posted in Bee-loving flowers, Gardening, Natural Beekeeping, Videos, tagged , , , , , , , on April 15, 2013| 6 Comments »

A bee sipping nectar on Autumn Beauty sedum

A bee sipping nectar from the  Autumn Joy sedum

Last year I discovered a new bee-loving flower.  My wife and I were visiting with Hal and Patti when I spotted a bunch of bee activity on some reddish blossoms.  Patti said it was Sedum.  I had heard of it, but I’ve never paid much attention to it.  Now that I’m keeping bees, I’m all ears when it comes to flowers that attract bees.

So we bought some from our friendly nursery…bees started working it as my wife was carrying the potted plants out to the garden.

The plants will winter over, but protect them from the deer which will eat surely eat the blossoms as we found out.

This sedum has wintered over and is on it's way to flowering in September

This sedum has wintered over and is on it’s way to flowering in September.  This time I’ve got it inside a deer fence.

I shot some video of the bees working the sedum.  It’s a good time to plant some now hint, hint…:-)

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A Bully Bee?

Posted in Bee-loving flowers, Natural Beekeeping, Videos, tagged , , , , on April 10, 2013| 6 Comments »

Outstretched front legs to grab bee

Hey you, get out of there…

I was shooting video on the bees pollinating our flowering cherry tree when to my surprise I saw a bee actually pull another bee off a blossom.

You're going down...

You’re going down…

The bully bee then flew off, not even partaking of the nectar.  So why did she pull the first one off?

Here’s a video capturing the play-by-play…

Here’s another example of bees interacting on a blossom

…and a bee brushing a different insect off the side of a crocus.

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Warre Worries Waning

Posted in Feeding sugar, Hives, Natural Beekeeping, Videos, Warre Hive, tagged , , , , , on March 27, 2013| 6 Comments »

After I added a frame of sugar on top of the single brood box, October 25, 2012, I figured that would do it for the winter.  But at the bee meeting in January, we were advised to keep feeding into the spring.  It was important because the bees would be flying more and using up the last of the honey stores…if the weather was bad, they wouldn’t be able to fly and could starve and all our efforts would be wasted.  Just to make sure I ask the natural beekeeping forum.  I was advised to super another box.

We opened the hive on a sunny February day, adding more sugar on top of the brood box, then added an empty box on top.  Inside the empty box hung a bit of comb on two top bars that measured about 2 inches (5 cm) down.  I figured the bees would come through the slits, eat the sugar which would give them energy to build more comb.

Sugar frame added 2-15-13. Slits cut through newsprint to allow bees access to sugar from bottom box.

Feb. 15,  More sugar  added. Slits cut through newsprint to allow bees access to sugar from bottom box.  The chunks of sugar on the right of center was all that was left of the batch we placed in October.

February 17, 2013 Bees feeding on new sugar above brood box

February 17, 2013 Bees feeding on new sugar above brood box

The bees came up through the slits no problem, ate at the sugar, but stopped there.  They would overnight on the sugar…soon it was covered in bees.  They didn’t have any desire to build on the comb slightly above their heads.  Meanwhile the bees were crowding out the single brood box.

The box is getting crowded...March 3, 13

March 3…This box is getting very crowded…

What to do???  Okay, here’s a plan…if they like the sugar so much, let’s place the sugar frame above the empty box.  They’ll sniff out the sugar, climb up the comb to the sugar, and build out their comb.

Placing sugar frame above both boxes

March 9…Adding more sugar to the frame and placing it above top boxes

We waited a few days before we realized the bees were NOT going up to the sugar and certainly NOT building up more comb.  Meanwhile the bees were getting even more crowded in the brood box.

I go back to the beekeeping forum and notice that Bernhard has added some info about using ‘ladders,’ along with some very excellent photos taken with his expensive macro lens.

Should I try to buy foundation for the Warre…I don’t want to use plastic in my ‘natural’ hive, and I don’t want to use wax that might carry disease, but I do have a bit of comb left over from a failed hive last year which had swarmed late, not queened successfully and was finished off by the wasps.  I piece it together.

Comb 'ladders' attached to bars. This pathetic looking comb has been in the freezer for 4 to 5 months. My wife will be happy to have the extra room

Comb ‘ladders’ attached to bars. This pathetic looking comb has been in the freezer for 4 to 5 months.   I don’t have much left so I hope this will encourage them to climb upstairs.

Adding the first ladder

March 24…Adding the first ladder

Adding the second ladder

And the second ladder…”Honey, how about trimming the grass in front of the hive?”

A short video showing the steps involved…

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GORSE: Bandon, Ireland to Bandon, Oregon

Posted in Bee-loving flowers, Log hives, Natural Beekeeping, Videos, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 11, 2013| 9 Comments »

George Bennett

George Bennett    1827-1900

George Bennett wasn’t the first to visit Bandon from Ireland,  but he was the one who named the town in 1891, because it reminded him of his home town of Bandon, County Cork, Ireland.   His friend, Henry Hewitt Baldwin was the first.  Baldwin’s ship, the “Captain Lincoln” wrecked north of the Coos Bay bar in 1852 and he hiked into this area.  Baldwin persuaded his home town friend, George Bennett to settle here.  Lord Bennett and two sons arrived in 1873.  It is unclear how and when the title “Lord” was bestowed on him.  Some members of the Bandon Historical Society Museum are in agreement that he acquired the title on the journey from Ireland to here.  The former name of the town was Averill which is now the name of the Pioneer Cemetery where Lord Bennett is buried.

Averill Pioneer Cemetery, where Lord Bennett is buried.

Averill Pioneer Cemetery, where Lord Bennett is buried.

Lord Bennett is probably best known not for naming the town, but for bringing GORSE seeds to this area.

George Bennett brought gorse to Bandon

The conditions were just right for gorse which in the following decades went wild and became a nuisance in both the town and in the neighboring countryside.

To say gorse is a nuisance plant is probably an understatement.  It’s full of sharp spiny thorns, is impenetrable to walk through, and embodies an oil-type substance that makes it highly flammable.
In 1936, the Bandon Fire leveled the town,  gorse being a contributing factor.

My new hobby of beekeeping has sparked an interest in gorse.  When I joined the local bee club, I was advised that Bandon was not the best place for bees.  “Too damp and windy.”  I thought to myself maybe Bandon would have a slight advantage in the winter because of all the gorse growing here.  It starts to bloom early to  mid February and continues through late spring.  This would be a definite advantage in giving my bees a nectar and pollen source mid winter.

Some photographs of gorse.

Gorse growing in city limits

Gorse growing near town

Gorse can grow tall

Gorse can grow tall

Gorse pollen is orange...I had been hoping it was the yellow pollen I had seen going into the hive. February 13, 2013

Gorse pollen is orange…I had been hoping it was the yellow pollen I had seen going into the hive. February 13, 2013

Honey bee on gorse growing up the road from me.

Honey bee on gorse, up the road from me.

I love how these bees swagger when they are loaded with pollen...

I love how the bees swagger when they are loaded with pollen…

I realize that without special techniques to properly identify pollen, I can’t say for certain that all the orange pollen is from gorse.  Indeed, I could only find a small percentage of gorse with bees working it, but there is a lot of gorse that I don’t see.  My bees were bringing in a gobs of orange pollen through February and early March.  It’s possible this pollen could be coming from gorse.  I’d like to think so.

A short video showing bees working the gorse.

Footnote:  I checked with the The Federation of Irish Beekeepers Association.  They list gorse as a source of nectar of minor importance.

Some more photos…

Henry Baldwin's House, built sometime after the 1936 fire, now known as the Shindler House. Baldwin Cypress in foreground.

Henry Baldwin’s House, built sometime after the 1936 fire, now known as the Shindler House. Baldwin Cypress in foreground.

Baldwin Cypress now...Shindler house in background

Baldwin Cypress now…Shindler house in background

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Flowers blooming mid-winter

Posted in Bee-loving flowers, Log hives, Natural Beekeeping, Uncategorized, Videos, Warre Hive, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 22, 2013| 8 Comments »

Could this be pollen from the laurel bush? It's been blooming since Jan. 22.

Could this be pollen from the laurel bush? It’s been blooming since Jan. 22. I know that you can’t tell by color alone, but at this time I don’t have the microscope or capability to properly identify pollen.

This is the first year I’ve had bees into winter.  I was curious about all the types of pollen showing up on the bees entering the hive.  I was sure some of it was gorse since we seem to have so much of it growing thanks to Lord Bennett of Ireland.

I made a 9 minute movie showing the bees on different types of flowers and Shigeo of the local bee association demonstrates how to transplant an Echium.  I realize that some people can’t spare the time, so I’m offering ‘screen saves,’ as well.

Laurel blooming by Bonnie's house

Laurel blooming by Bonnie’s house

Bee on laurel, tannish-colored pollen

Bee on laurel, tannish-colored pollen…January 22, 2013

Bees on rosemary, at City Hall, February 8, 2013

Bees on rosemary, at City Hall, February 8, 2013

Pussy Willows blooming near our hives...sun comes out...bees love it.

Willow catkins blooming near our hives…sun comes out…bees love it.  February 8,2013

Gorse pollen is orange...I had been hoping it was the yellow pollen I had seen going into the hive. February 13, 2013

Gorse pollen is orange…I had been hoping it was the yellow pollen I had seen going into the hive. February 13, 2013

The video shows this bee in slow motion working the pollen back to it's pollen sac. I didn't see it at first until a more experience bee keeper showed me. February 13, 2013

The video shows this bee in slow motion working the pollen back to it’s pollen sac. I didn’t see it at first until a more experience bee keeper showed me. February 13, 2013

Bee on heather, 2-14-13, right up the street from Tom and Karen's house.

Bee on heather, 2-14-13, right up the street from Joe and Karen’s house.

Bee on acacia, 2-15-13...Shigeo showed me this place to get some video. By the time we got to it, the bees were returning to home so I only got a short clip of it.

Bee on acacia, 2-15-13…Shigeo showed me this place to get some video. By the time we got to it, the bees were returning to home so I only got a short clip of it.

Shigeo shows how to transplant an Echium Tree.

Shigeo shows how to transplant an Echium Tree.

Echium for 2013...I'm hoping this plant will shoot up 10 feet (3 m) starting about April or May.

Echium for 2013…I’m hoping this plant will shoot up 10 feet (3 m) starting about April or May. The tarp protects against freezing weather.

These are the plants that Shigeo demonstrated in the video, how to transplant. They are my hope for 2014

These are the plants that Shigeo demonstrated in the video, how to transplant. They are my hope for 2014

We planted this in late October 2011. It just stared blankly at us for several months. April or May we noticed it had grown about 10 feet. The bees worked it for 3 solid months.

We planted this echium in late October 2011. It just stood still for several months. About April or May we noticed it had grown to about 10 feet. The bees worked it for 3 solid months.

The video shows the bees in action on the flowers.  I used the Canon SX-50 (50x optical zoom) on the laurel as well as the willow catkins.  My little pocket camera, a Sanyo Xacti performed admirably for the rest of the close ups…I love the ‘super macro’ feature.

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