A beekeeper searching to improve beekeeping by combining old wisdom with new technology

[AJAntonov]

Hi fellow beekeepers!

I wanted to introduce myself and share my journey at the intersection of beekeeping and technology.
I've been keeping bees for 7 years, managing 20 hives, and like many of you,
I've experienced the practical challenges of hive inspections - from taking notes with gloved hands to maintaining consistent inspection practices while working through my apiary.

As a software developer, I found myself uniquely positioned to address some of these common pain points. I'm currently developing software specifically designed for beehive inspections, born from my own experiences in the field. My focus has been on solving real-world problems we face during inspections, like the awkwardness of documentation while wearing protective gear and maintaining systematic inspection protocols.

I'm particularly interested in connecting with other beekeepers to understand your experiences and challenges with hive inspections. What methods do you use to record observations during inspections? How do you manage documentation while wearing a veil and gloves? What inspection protocols have you found most effective?
Looking forward to learning from your collective wisdom and sharing insights as we work to improve our beekeeping practices.

Anton Antonov

 

[Sutty]

A bit simple really, I write my findings in a book after each hive, with needed actions next time. I only wear thin nitrile gloves, or none, so apart from a bit of propolis my dexterity is unaffected.

 

[AJAntonov]

A bit simple really, I write my findings in a book after each hive, with needed actions next time. I only wear thin nitrile gloves, or none, so apart from a bit of propolis my dexterity is unaffected.

Thank you very much Sutty !
Do you keep history for every family/hive ?

 

[Sutty]

Thank you very much Sutty !
Do you keep history for every family/hive ?

Yes, currently in the same book, but planning to use a loose leaf folder with a section for each hive this season.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

I record everything I need as I go through each hive. I can't even trust myself to remember the details after each hive! I used to find that after a number of inspections I wondered if I was confusing the last hive with the previous one - which is a bit pathetic but that's the way things are now. With Google recorder I go through the audio and transcript at home and fill in my records for each hive. I take these with me to every inspection so I know how things were last time before I open up.

 

[boywonder]

I maintain my records in Google Sheets. I've variously tried different ways to capture the observations in the field, having repurposed an old 7in tablet (nice sized screen and something I'm not precious about getting propolis on)... ranging from a Google Form, to direct input to the sheet.

Gave up eventually, as it was just too much faff.

I now fluctuate between printing the sheets and taking these down to the apiary with a pencil, or doing a voice recording of my spoken observations (on my phone).... In each case transcribing these to the spreadsheet, back at base.

Still faff, but, whilst transcribing the voice notes is a total PITA, it is by far my preferred method. Better than having loose-leaf paper blowing all over the apiary. Plus, I find that chatting into the phone helps my thought processes.

It does occur to me that transcribing hive records would be a use case for a simple AI chatbot.

"Hey Siri/Google/Alexa/Via (see below), I'm just starting to inspect Hive 6"
--- "OK Boywonder, keep me posted about what you see; maybe you could start by giving me an idea of the temperament. How does that rank on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being extremely agitated/aggressive, and 1 being docile?"
"2, I would say"
--- "Hmmmm, I think it's forecast for rain later; is the weather a factor, do you think????"

Etc.... etc...

... Prompting for photos in case of suspect brood, and using AI image analysis to diagnose, and to e.g. find Queens, count Varroa on the inspection board etc...

Many/most might think that sounds undesirable/dystopian or even far-fetched... But others would doubtless be keen to make use of an Inspection Assistant* like this, and both the tech and the ability to quickly and cheaply go-to-market on something like this are coming within reach.

(* There you go, I've even named it - "VIA". - Virtual inspection Assistant)... Perfect for those who don't have an apiary buddy with a clipboard - or possibly no friends at all

 

[Sutty]

Looks like they will all score "1" though I'm sure that's a typo!

 

[AJAntonov]

I record everything I need as I go through each hive. I can't even trust myself to remember the details after each hive! I used to find that after a number of inspections I wondered if I was confusing the last hive with the previous one - which is a bit pathetic but that's the way things are now. With Google recorder I go through the audio and transcript at home and fill in my records for each hive. I take these with me to every inspection so I know how things were last time before I open up.

Thank you BeeKeyPlayer, the idea with Google recorder is very inovative approach.
BTW I am writing on the roof the date of inspection and some key words, I hope to be useful for you!

 

[AJAntonov]

I maintain my records in Google Sheets. I've variously tried different ways to capture the observations in the field, having repurposed an old 7in tablet (nice sized screen and something I'm not precious about getting propolis on)... ranging from a Google Form, to direct input to the sheet.

Gave up eventually, as it was just too much faff.

I now fluctuate between printing the sheets and taking these down to the apiary with a pencil, or doing a voice recording of my spoken observations (on my phone).... In each case transcribing these to the spreadsheet, back at base.

Still faff, but, whilst transcribing the voice notes is a total PITA, it is by far my preferred method. Better than having loose-leaf paper blowing all over the apiary. Plus, I find that chatting into the phone helps my thought processes.

It does occur to me that transcribing hive records would be a use case for a simple AI chatbot.

"Hey Siri/Google/Alexa/Via (see below), I'm just starting to inspect Hive 6"
--- "OK Boywonder, keep me posted about what you see; maybe you could start by giving me an idea of the temperament. How does that rank on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being extremely agitated/aggressive, and 1 being docile?"
"2, I would say"
--- "Hmmmm, I think it's forecast for rain later; is the weather a factor, do you think????"

Etc.... etc...

... Prompting for photos in case of suspect brood, and using AI image analysis to diagnose, and to e.g. find Queens, count Varroa on the inspection board etc...

Many/most might think that sounds undesirable/dystopian or even far-fetched... But others would doubtless be keen to make use of an Inspection Assistant* like this, and both the tech and the ability to quickly and cheaply go-to-market on something like this are coming within reach.

(* There you go, I've even named it - "VIA". - Virtual inspection Assistant)... Perfect for those who don't have an apiary buddy with a clipboard - or possibly no friends at all

Thank you Boywonder
Regarding the usage of old tablet, I think that for a good idea !
I don't know have you tried tablet with stylus pen ?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Jot everything that I need down after each hive. Don't need much just pointers to what to look out for next time.
Transfer to records I have on my computer but still use the book as a progress report.
Software would just complicate my life. I can hardly decipher the television remote

 

[AJAntonov]

Thank you Erichalfbee!
BTW contemporary software is very complicated just because nobody pay attention on humans congnitive capabilities.
One of my colleagues has a joke "Try to use your software application during walk with your dog!", and nobody
do this simple test in software business.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Pocket notebook and pencil to jot down bullet points after closing up each hive, transferred to a simple card system when I get home.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

a simple card system

Care to tell us more?

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

Better than having loose-leaf paper blowing all over the apiary.

Before I gave up on writing notes on site, I once inadvertently left my envelope folder containing dozens of single sheets at the apiary. A wind and rain-filled week later I got back to the hives to find the field and hedges littered with my precious notes.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Care to tell us more?

card system sounds a bit grand really - I started using the beecraft 'queen and colony' record cards way back when I started increasing my colony numbers (and realised my memory wasn't up to remembering what I'd seen in the hive seven days previously) I still use the same kind of system but print my own sheets on card. It's a simple 'tick box' system and is all you need - I can't be doing with recording a running commentary on every thing you do or observe when you open up. I've shared the A4 sheet I made up for my beginners before.
People tend to over complicate things too much and in the end the compulsion of writing screeds of notes takes over from practical beekeeping.

 

[Murox]

pencil and notebook at the apiary transpose any observations to a paper record at home later. I find it too difficult and also unnecessarily complicated to use electronic gadgets at the apiary. Plus when I review any notes I find simply turning a page far easier than using a computer screen. I did try talking into a recording device once, playback revealed too much wind noise to make use of it. plus I still had to operate it on site and transpose any comments.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

card system sounds a bit grand really - I started using the beecraft 'queen and colony' record cards way back when I started increasing my colony numbers (and realised my memory wasn't up to remembering what I'd seen in the hive seven days previously) I still use the same kind of system but print my own sheets on card. It's a simple 'tick box' system and is all you need - I can't be doing with recording a running commentary on every thing you do or observe when you open up. I've shared the A4 sheet I made up for my beginners before.
People tend to over complicate things too much and in the end the compulsion of writing screeds of notes takes over from practical beekeeping.

Thanks! I keep records on a sheet like that for each hive. What I've come to realise is that the sheet will not last the season if I fill it in on site - too much of the contents of the hive find their way on to the paper! So, although it's a chore I really could do without, I now fill them in at home from the audio (and transcript).

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

playback revealed too much wind noise to make use of it

maybe you shouldn't have stowed it in your back pocket?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Thanks! I keep records on a sheet like that for each hive. What I've come to realise is that the sheet will not last the season if I fill it in on site - too much of the contents of the hive find their way on to the paper!

yep - that's why a pocket notebook when on site (the kind of thing we used to have tucked into our shirt breast pocket when on duty) a quick line of jottings per hive is enought of a reminder for me to fill in the sheet when I get home. If there is anything on the notes that I need to check on my next visit, then it's vice versa - a check of my notes at home before leaving for the apiary, whith a 'to do' list jotted in the notebook.