Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: 10framer on October 26, 2012, 02:42:26 pm

Title: strange behavior
Post by: 10framer on October 26, 2012, 02:42:26 pm
my hives are located right next to my deer stand.  it has been reaching around 80 degrees the last week or so.
in the evening my bees have been flying around the entrance almost like they are preparing to swarm.  very active and buzzing audibly.
earlier in the week one hive was doing it and yesterday another hive was doing it.  this is happening a couple of hours before sunset. 
the bees settle down and go into the hive just before dark.  it doesn't seem like robbers or returning field bees.
both hives are strong with good queens and substantial honey and pollen stores.
any thoughts on what's going on?
i have seen hive beetles in all three hives but no damage.  my eyes aren't what they used to be but i haven't seen any varroa (i can still see eggs in a cell if i try hard enough so i think i'd see mites).
i used to run a couple hundred hives and worked for a guy that had a couple thousand.  i admit that this isn't a time of year that we spent in the bee yards.  we re-queened in august and usually didn't start feeding until december.
i just don't remember seeing this behavior other than when a swarm was emerging or settling into an empty hive.
i'm not overly concerned but i am curious.
Title: Re: strange behavior
Post by: hardwood on October 26, 2012, 02:47:08 pm
Orientation flights?

Scott
Title: Re: strange behavior
Post by: iddee on October 26, 2012, 02:50:57 pm
Ditto hardwood.... Orientation flights.
Title: Re: strange behavior
Post by: 10framer on October 26, 2012, 03:57:07 pm
good point.  i moved them there a week ago today so that makes perfect sense. 
thanks