Honeybee flight altitude

[Dane Bramage]

Does anyone know what altitude honeybees typically fly at en route to/from foraging?  What is their maximum altitude? 

I just noticed a lofty gathering of sparrows who were messing a bit with Oscar & Lucinda (our resident red-tail hawks here @ the wetlands) as they were riding the thermals up today.  The sparrows act as if they are feeding very well up there... lots of abrupt changes of direction that I'm guessing is some flying snack snatched out of the air (hoping it's not the bees!).

TIA,
Dane

[JP]

Sounds like they are snacking on some banded sweets, I've seen high flight paths before.


...JP

[Michael Bush]

Whatever height they need to get to clear all obstacles in the way and fly straight to the location they are headed for.  In the woods this may be 100 feet.  If the hives are near the road and the blooms are down the road this may be four feet.