Spring swarm capture

April 27, 2009 – 7:30 pm

I’ve added two swarms to my apiary this season. With the two (out of three) hives which survived the winter, I’ve got a total of four hives up and running now. They are doing well in West Sonoma County. The most recent swarm was at an apartment complex in Santa Rosa, about fifteen feet high on branch. Sonic.net’s bucket truck made it a quick and easy job to put them in a swarm box for transport.

  • Eric

    Guessing there still is a bee shortage (from colony collapse disorder) -that’s nice work -and a prize catch!
    Bees are fascinating little creatures. What do you think of the Petaluma city council banning bee-keeping in the city limits?
    -Eric

  • http://www.sonic.net/ Dane Jasper

    I think I heard that Petaluma was revisiting this, and perhaps it’ll be resolved?

  • Wendy

    Hi Dane:

    Glad you’re enjoying bees. I feel like a buzzing bee over the fact that I’m a loyal lo-o-o-n-g-time customer (dating back at least 10 years)but face no incentives to stay with Sonic.

    Here’s why: The “new” customer $14.95 DSL rate is much lower than my “old” customer rate. To change to the “new” customer rate, I would incur an additional $50 service-call charge.

    Why not reward loyal customers like me by waiving that fee? Or something even better.

    I have saved you much money in no-churn and referrals. You haven’t had to chase a newbie to replace me. Any gratitude?

  • Eric

    Dane -May 18th is the date the Petaluma council takes up a revamped ordinance -heard it is revamped worse . . . Bees seem to be coming under pressure: blamed for wrecking seedless citrus crop – (farmers tried issuing a ‘restraining order’ of sorts). Read it in the news:
    http://www.bohemian.com/bohemian/04.15.09/news-0915.html

  • Robert Huber

    We live in central Marin and I have long thought about the possibility getting a beehive. Do you happen to know if there are problems with having a single beehive in this more populated area (near the Larkspur Ferry Landing and on an Audubon bird marsh)?
    Just curious.

  • http://www.yosean.com Sean Arenas

    Hello,

    I saw your Blog and thought you’d be interested in this video I made of a bee swarm capture last week with my friend Kerry:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGN3PoG0ih8&fmt=22

    He’s taking the bees back to his place to start a new hive, and we made this instructional hi-def video. I thought your Blog readers might enjoy it so thought I’d offer it to you to share with them!

    Hope you enjoy it.

    Sean Arenas

  • http://www.sonic.net/ Dane Jasper

    Really nice video, thanks Sean for posting!

  • Laura Dodd

    I’m jealous. I want a bucket truck for gathering swarms :)

  • William Grimes

    Glad to hear that there are still swarms. I had two swarms in my back yard in SF about 20 years ago and since nothing. Very few bees around for fruit trees.

  • GD

    Hi Dane, some people on the forums related to the Great Sunflower Project through San Francisco State University (http://www.greatsunflower.org/ ) have been asking what they should do if they find a hive on their property that they would like someone to take away. Any tips for them? Is there any site where they could let people know that they have a swarm available for the taking? Thanks.

  • http://www.sonic.net/ Dane Jasper

    Most areas have a beekeeping club that maintains a swarm list. Google for your local beekeeping group, or contact your local department of ag and ask about a swarm list.

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