Drone ejection

[JWChesnut]

My hives have started the annual Drone ejection.  About a week earlier than last year.  Just did a light extraction (3 or 4 frames per top  super, some with none, but all hives opened and inspected.  Hives even without extracted frames have begun to escort the men out.

What have other observed-- do extractions and/or disturbance precipitate the behavoir.  Does the ability of drones to float from hive to hive imply all hives in a yard will start the ejection simultaneously as being kicked out of one home they load up on the welcome mat of a still hospitable one.

This is not really a management question, I'm just trying to get a deeper understanding of the behavior.

[Michael Bush]

Stress will cause drone evictions.  If they think they will be short on resources the drones are the first to go.