It has been over a month since they left. I had completely given up finding them, but had told some neighbors to let me know if they saw any bees.
Yesterday, I get a knock at the door. It's the landlord of some apartments on the next block. He says the lawn maintenance crew noticed some bees in a tree. I walk over to the location indicated, and behold! They found a natural tree hollow.
Now what do I do? They look so happy there. The landlord said he would not exterminate them, but some tenants had been complaining. I fear what the tenants might do with a spray can. I might offer to pay for some shrubs to be planted so they would not be as visible. They are barely a foot above the ground where this oak tree branches out.
It is a great feeling to know where they are, and that I can visit them. But now I'm going to worry about their future. I know tree removal is the trickiest beekeeping trick there is.
Trap them out? If it is a single entrance to the hollow and not too big, it could be done *fairly*easily....
I doubt that it is worth paying for shrubbery for them, chances are they won't make it past the winter or 2 or 3 years. I only invest in the ones that want to stick around. The ingrateful ones are on their own... :roll:
Rick
A photo of the tree:
(http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/4125/treecirclecy9.jpg)
A close-up of the entrance:
(http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/1797/treezoomst6.jpg)
It's the thin vertical slit on the right.
supplies needed for job:
1. some aluminum screen to cover the entrance.
2. staple gun to staple screen to the entrance.
3. A bee escape or two(one way ones and put into the screen).
4. funnel
5. hive body with frames(I have added a few frames with bees in the ones i have done).
6. a little time to set it all up
good luck
Decided to take Rick's advice and leave them alone.
Blessed be.
Matthew
Matthew. Personally, I would take Dallas' advice and get the bees out. I don't doubt for one minute that the bees being close to the ground would attract kids or some fool human beings to bug them, hurt them, spray them, call it what you may.
Go on an adventure, using Dallas' idea. It might be alot of fun. Life is all about fun, so do this thing and have fun, fun, fun. Have a wonderful day. By the way, cool pictures, Matthew. Cindi