Well I have no pictures of my first swarm of the season. It was rather unexpected. I went over to check on my bees and put second hive bodies on the ones that need it and what do I hae but a nice basketball size swarm 20 feet up in a tree.
So I cant reach the branch real well as its in the top of the dang tree. I had my wife bring up 1 tarp and bottom board with lid. I also had her grab 1 swarm scent vial. I opened the vial and dropped it in the empty box. Then I spread the tarp out below the swarm and placed the box under the swarm on top of the tarp. Afterwards I climbed the tree on an adjacent branch as I didnt want to disturb the swarm. After I was about 4 feet below the swarm I held tight to the branch I am on and gave a nice hard kick to the branch the swarm was on. Many dropped in the box and most dropped right in front of the swarm. By the time I climbed down the tree all the bees in front of the hive were climbing into it.
Woohoo...... Most of the bees were in the hive when I left 1/2 hour ago.....
That sounded so cool. Good for you.
Hooray,
Swarms! Fun fun fun...20 feet up?? LOL..good for you!
Yep. It was no problem climbing up the tree close to the swarm. The branch they were on was flexible enough I knew a good kick is all it would take.
No prob yet for climbing the trees. Maybe in a few years I will think twice about it and send my boy up the tree. Not yet though.