I got my second swarm call from my friend Jeff Corson. He works at the local airport and this swarm set up housekeeping on a tree branch next to the perimeter fence. This is the first time I have seen an open air colony up north here. I have heard of them, just not seen them personally. I didn't find the queen but these bees were very calm and were building some comb on the branch. As soon as I shook them in the box,they were fanning the familiar lemon pledge smelling pheremone quite profusely. With the exception of a few stragglers early on, even the returning foragers were returning to the new house. We went for a coffe and returned just as the sun was ready to set and the remaning bees had found their way to the box. I put a screened top on and didn't even bother to close the entrance for the ride home in the trunk. I got home after sunset, set the hive on the blocks and listened to them humming away in a relaxed state. Great retrieval!!
http://s93.photobucket.com/user/kwrabbit/library/Open%20air%20colony%20Williamsport%20airport%20June%202013 (http://s93.photobucket.com/user/kwrabbit/library/Open%20air%20colony%20Williamsport%20airport%20June%202013)
Nice catch. Good size, too.
PS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Thanks Iddee! :)
(http://s11.postimg.org/59dn2gdr3/Lennix_Open_Hive_002.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/59dn2gdr3/)
This is the first one I encountered in an oak tree earlier this year.
Blanc
Happy Birthday Ken and nice swarm removal. They made some weird comb there.
Nice job. Nice birthday present Ken. I also have a hive that was an open air hive. They are one of the most docile hives that I have. Made 2 mediums of honey this year already.
Jim
Looks like a great birthday present! Happy birthday to you. You pulled their fat out of the fire. At the very least the bush was too small to support a completely established hive (capped brood and stores). They had no chance had you not come along. Were there eggs in any of the drawn comb?
No eggs yet in the comb on the tree. the wax was really way,indicating it was pretty fresh. I think they had just decided they were not moving on for whatever reason.There was considerable nectar in the fresh comb.Nothing capped.