Congratulations class of June 13, 2010! (Orientation Flight Observation!)

[HomeBru]

About 3:30 this afternoon the kids and I were out working in the garden, I went to dump some weeds in the compost and happened to glance at my son's new hives and there were over a hundred bees swirling up and around one of the hives. After last years' experiences, I panicked and thought they were swarming but noticed about as many going in as were coming out and realized it was orientation time.

I called the kids over and we stood in awe watching the girls flying out, around, and back in, en mass for about fifteen minutes. An amazing sight, we were fortunate!

J-

[jhs494]

It is very interesting and exciting to watch. If we have had a few days of bad weather and the bees have been held in the hive the orientation flights seem really heavy.

Good luck and have fun watching the new flyers!

[BjornBee]

Most hives have a short period of time when they go into a hyper active mode each day which can almost mimic a swarm. It happens often. Someone once mentioned a fancy term for this activity by I forgot what it is called.

I have often wondered if they are practicing a drill (swarming routine), or even if the bees are signaling in a queen on her mating flight. Maybe a start to a swarm and the failure of the queen to take flight? Many possibilities.

There is also a period of time when all the drones come back, usually at the same time each day.

[Michael Bach]

This past weekend I have the same type thing happen.  Two of my four hives werer talking first flights.  Very cool the actually understand what you are seeing.

Off topic but today I watch two workers work as a team and carry off a dead drone.  The both pulled him out of the hive and in sync took flight, each holding one end and fly off about 50 feet and drop him.  Totally cool.