I just attended the Fingerlakes Bee Club meeting in Ithaca New York. We talked about many things, but the big and sad message was "A LOT OF BEEKEEPERS ARE LOSING A LOT OF BEES" this winter. Lots of conjecture as to why this year has been so difficult to overwinter bees. Everybody in attendance (20) save one reported dead hives already. One of our members has heard of widespread loss all over the US. One beekeeper in N Dakota found 14 live hives out of 3200 recently. I hate to be the harbinger of bad news, but you will all hear it soon enough. If you plan to buy nucs or packages for this spring, I suggest you act now. There will be lots of beekeepers looking for bees this spring. I would like to know if members of this forum are experiencing any losses yet. Go check your hives soon. As for me, I was the one with no losses. Opps, hurt my arm patting my own back:)