Shooting for 20, Sidetracked

A spell of coldish, damp weather- then a day at 70 degrees. As soon as it warms up, the hives on the roof- all that I can see from my workspace (as I have removed the others to different locations in the valley)- start pouring out. Its an intense sound. I wonder if it can be heard over the phone. I look out on the hives every once in awhile- and they are pouring out everywhere- in gobs. I think I say that every year- but it seems way different. Yesterday I went through 4 hives- looked at every frame- and found queen cells on lots. As expected- I can't keep up.

At noon an old friend from Berkeley comes over- with fish he just caught- and he cooks them up in pepper and salt and corn meal and we eat them with Ak-Mak and water in the garden. And as we eat, I see that the bees are like at an extra level of intensity, up on the roof.

I go back to work- and at about 4 PM there is a rising tone- and I know there is a swarm- and sure enough- they are pouring from hive #4- a hive I killed queen cells in the night before, in a light rain, and thought- damn, this is a strong hive. I went out and put my head at the entrance. I've seen lots of swarms, and lots standing in front of  hives- but this was beyond anything- like being in a tornado of bees flooding out- from both the top opening, and the bottom. And of course, as this flood is happening, there are bees returning with their loads, trying to work their way upstream into the hive, while thousands- literally- are flooding out.

I stare intently as I can, with my old eyes, trying to see the queen, and thinking if I can just gently grab her. Dimly I have this memory of doing this once before- but a lot of my memory is a fog- so Im not sure, and I cant quite imagine how I will "gently"do this. And I put my hand into the mix and its like being in- well, a tornado, of bees- they are pouring out- and I know this hive is super strong, and I see them high above in the sun, and everywhere, and know that they are going to set down, and I hope its an easy one- low down,

Although- I am almost out of built equipment. I have one super with ancient brown foundation in- pulled to replace- and one spanking new one- and no bottom boards, and one top. So I make a quick bottom board and put a hive together.

And- finally, they land in the same fir tree as other hives have landed- like the last swarm, where I could walk up to it, climb a  a short ladder and shake it right into a hive.

But this one is at least 30 feet up. Which is bad news. But at least its not a Holly tree. I don't know if I can climb this tree, and I can, if I will be able to reach the swarm.

Swarm #5 this year- way high in a Doug Fit- and out on a limb. I took this while wrapped around the trunk of the tree.

  So I gear up, with ropes, and shears, and caribiners, and clippers, and a camera, and I start up the tree, to what looks like the hugest swarm I have ever hived. And I think- Im pretty weak, and I have short duration- as I sit and draw all day- and so I better pace this, and not do anything stupid, and its hotish, and the branches are really small. And- its way high. And, I drag up this big metal can I have, on a purple rope, and cut branches as I go, and see the hive up on high, and go from whorl to whorl, and finally, I am at the level of the swarm. And get stung a few times, and see that the swarm isn't a droopy football, like it is usually. But a big swarm strung out horizontally on a branch, and out of reach. It doesn't look possible. I cut away branches, I get my gloves and veil on, I figure- I can cut the branch, and grab it as it falls (this really needs four hands)- and swing into into the can. So I try. And I pretty much miss everything, the branch just falls, and there are bees flooding down the tree- into the branches- and maybe 1/4 fall into the metal can- and the sky is full of them.

Swarm with neighbor's house below.

I figure there is no way I have the queen. I try to knock a few more bees into the can. And I lower the can as best I can through the branches. Its a big can, like 20 inches across- and two feet deep- a Lard Can from my friend Douglas.

And I start back down the tree as fast as I can- which, due to the bees flying around- is more dangerous than going up. And I can't see, really. But I know, if I screw up, I won't be able to work- and there isn't any insurance- and I better be deliberate about which crazy, ivy covered branch I step on.

And I hit the bottom, grab the can- its heavy (a good sign)- and head to the hive I set up- and dump them in.

Bees don't cling. Its not like trying to get lint off a sweater- its like bees, when they get the right shake, are like water molecules. They fall freely. I don't get it, but they do. You shake them hard and quick, and they are like water. And so- I shake them in, dump them into an empty hive, figuring, I have no queen. and they are going to leave.

But- they put their butts in the air. They start fanning. Fannying it should be called- as they stick that Nasarov gland out- and tell a thousand air bound bees that the queen is in her castle. I am skeptical- as often, in life, and with bees, you think you have figured out a natural law, and you are dead wrong- but in fact, they don't leave. Sure, I climb up the tree again- and grab more bees- another pound or two- and bring them in and dump them into the hive. But I am pretty sure that the queen was in the first batch. I don't know how- luck maybe. Or she flew in on her own.

That is swarm # 5 this year- all biggish. All power swarms- all into two supers (Westerns) as one is two small. It's a swarm year- with more to come, so I spent the eve making more equipment. I think that's hive #24? That's a lot for me, who was sort of shooting for 20.