swallows, swifts, martins.

[hiveabee]

This may sound a daft question but I have a nuc and the colony should have a virgin queen in it this week, tomorrow if my calculations are correct. In the sky above my garden where i keep my bees there are lots of swifts, swallows and house martins patrolling the air space. Whats the chances of them making a meal of Her when she goes to mate?

 

[VEG]

50/50

 

[REDWOOD]

Get a sparrow hawk

 

[hiveabee]

Thought as much. only yesterday a swallow flew past me while I was in the garden feeding the hens, it just missed my head and intercepted a bee 4ft from ground.

 

[hiveabee]

I have a pair 100yrds away. My mate next door but one also has a goshawk, a Harris hawk a europeon eagle owl and a tawny owl. dont think He would like to get caught letting the Harris loose on such birds. lol

 

[The Cumbrian]

I am not sure the Harris would have much chance against them perhaps a deterrent.

 

[Chris Luck]

Get a sparrow hawk

Hobby is the one.

Whats the chances of them making a meal of Her when she goes to mate?

Less than 5%, probably much less in fact, more like 0.05%.

Chris

 

[Midland Beek]

In the sky above my garden where i keep my bees there are lots of swifts, swallows and house martins patrolling the air space. Whats the chances of them making a meal of Her when she goes to mate?

And avoid walking on the cracks in the pavement or else you might self-combust. If anyone can give you the odds of a bird taking your queen ask them for the lottery numbers as well.

I have never seen any swallows, martens or swifts hanging around at my apiary, which kind of says that bees aren't their thing.

 

[tonybloke]

I have never seen any swallows, martens or swifts hanging around at my apiary, which kind of says that bees aren't their thing.

perhaps you missed this post

hiveabee Thought as much. only yesterday a swallow flew past me while I was in the garden feeding the hens, it just missed my head and intercepted a bee 4ft from ground.

 

[REDWOOD]

My cat intercepts bumblebees all the time

 

[Poggle]

My cat intercepts bumblebees all the time

Our dog used to then sit and move the bumble bee around his mouth for a few seconds then spit it back out again........He was never stung at any time and the noise the bee made was seriously comical as was the dogs face

 

[Skyhook]

I've read a suggestion that part of the reason workers go out with a queen on the mating flight is to reduce her chances of being eaten, and that therefore queens from strong colonies stand a better chance than those from eg apideas as they can put up a bigger escort.

.

 

[Silly Bee]

Sat watching my bees coming and going, and a Great Tit sitting on the hive which every now and again, drops to the paved area in front of the hives, picking up and eating a few bees on walkabout.

 

[jackbee]

Sat watching my bees coming and going, and a Great Tit sitting on the hive which every now and again, drops to the paved area in front of the hives, picking up and eating a few bees on walkabout.

we had a robin yesterday seemingly doing the same thing to the scout/foragers around my empty hive. Went back out an hour later, lots of feathers, one dead robin! We have 2 cats