Guys, I never had bees absconding.
What makes them do it?
IF one accepts communal bees - or indeed "communal" anything - are aware of a Future and plan accordingly
it is sudden change which triggers flight.
Some observed triggers here (.au) are;
Extended rain period over a poorly sealed hivebody (operator error) - gone within hours of first rays of sunshine.
Greenant attack - unlike other ants here GA go on 'crusades', at _their_ communal decision. Think Viking raids
as a humanised analogy.
Livestock intrusion - shifting cattle into a paddock holding unprotected hives can be catastrophic.
Toads - Moving a hive to set it down in new location without providing a 450mm (H) stand will see bees gone quicktime.
No doubt there are others - some whisper "spray plane" as an accusatory trigger however having run scores
of hives in pollination tasks I myself cannot confirm spraying crops has the effect of absconds happening.
Classic sign is no uncapped brood, very little honey stores and obvious slack(remiss) housekeeping to
bottomboard (detritus) - and no QC or newly formed cups.
Cheers.
Bill