Bees and Thunderstorms

Bee Swarm in the Apple Tree

Nathan calls the TV Bee Keepers Association

Bee Swarm after being lowered from the tree

A much better, and more interesting, day.  First, my step-daughter graduated from Medical School at OHSU.  Yea Ashley!

After the graduation ceremony I arrived at the farm to find our volunteer, Sam, staring up in to one of our old apple trees.  I followed his gaze to see a swarm of bees!

According to my co-worker, Nathan, (See the Nathan’s Bees page) bee colonies sometimes leave their hives to look for a more amenable home.  When they do, the majority of the hive will congregate in one location while others go in search of a new home.   Once a new home is located, usually in just a few hours, the whole colony will lift off and fly to the new location.

While the colony waits for their new “address”, they must conserve energy for the hive building activities to come.  During this time they are very docile, which make it a good time to catch the hive and move it to a desired location.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have a hive set up and ready for move in day.  If only we had known they were coming, we would have been prepared!

After determining that they were indeed Honey Bees, Nathan called the Tualatin Valley Bee Keepers Association who sent some one right away.  The limb that the hive was resting on was cut from the tree and gently lowered to the ground.  From there is was transferred to a waiting box and driven to its new home.

Unfortunately, I was working in another field and missed most of the excitement.  I am grateful to Sam for these pictures.

The afternoon brought a major thunderstorm, with an accompanying twister.  I didn’t have a camera with me so couldn’t get pictures.  Fortunately, we didn’t have any significant damage, just a few branches and some of the dear fencing came down.  Still it is amazing, and frightening, to see how much power the wind can have.  I can only imagine what a real tornado is like.