Autumn Hive Health Check

Autumn's arrival is unmistakable here on the Northern Rivers. The days are steadily growing shorter, and the mornings are becoming cooler.

Now is the opportune time to tend to your hives before the chill of winter sets in.

A simple yet effective method for assessing hive health without opening the hive and disturbing its occupants involves selecting a warm, sunny day and dedicating five minutes to quietly observing the hive entrance. The activity of bees coming and going from the entrance holds valuable insights.

Around noon, the hive should be abuzz with activity. But the real magic lies in the details. Listen closely; can you catch the melodious hum coming from the entrance? Observe the guard bees stationed at the entrance. Do you spot any bees discarding debris or spent egg casings, signalling new life within? What about the pollen and resin-laden foragers returning home? A careful eye can see how many bees are returning with resources.

Each moment spent at the hive entrance deepens your understanding of its well-being. Making this a regular ritual, whether weekly or monthly, raises the awareness of subtle shifts in the colour of pollen, resin types, and the frequency of returning foragers.

For those finding direct observation challenging, modern technology offers a solution. With a smartphone camera in hand, capture the hive's activity. Using slow-motion footage allows for a closer examination of colors and behaviors, providing invaluable insights into hive dynamics. Additionally, for robust colonies, this method aids in tallying returning bees per minute, offering a quantitative measure of hive strength.