We've heard nothing down this way....going on feedback from other local beeks, those in the direct vicinity had a very mixed season....early swarms, late swarms (this month!) and a whole lot of odd things going on in their hives with missing queens, loads of robbing and more than a few colonies turning feral in behaviour....
oh it's lovely to be back !
S
Carefully put. Says nothing you cannot wriggle out of, yet the line of dots at the end leaves it open to a negative interpretation.
If you have something to lay at the door of the bees then come out and say it.
However, you did not need to add 'in the direct vicinity' if you are not making mischief. It is a fair description of 2011 throughout our entire range, all localities and all bee types.
50% plus failure of new seasons queens commonplace, especially in our native stock here in the north.
Queens just dying for no known reason, emergency cells only a few days old, when you have not been near them for 10 to 12 days.
Supercedure started, then emergency cells as well.
I think (a dangerous activity that can lead to serious injury) the speed they took off in the spring is mostly to blame, and then they almost went through a summer winter, only to get racing ahead again in July. Not seen any late swarming this year but suspect it will have the same root.
Bees did well down there, but been a truly dire season in our home range, our best heather locations all failed and the crop will all be from our secondary areas. Double whammy, blossom failure followed by heather failure. Further south I hear it has been good, but Aberdeenshire, our key territory, has been completely useless. ( 70% failure in young queens in that area btw, and those that did mate are turning drone layer already. Bodes badly for spring 2012.)
So be it. Dust ourselves down and carry on. Not a year to remember with a fond glow.
