Wind Blown Colony

Wind gusts of 60 mph one night knocked over one of my tied down bee hives. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Wind Blown Colony

By this time of year, some beekeepers are missing time with their bees, myself included. In mid-Missouri USA, honey bees are tucked into their honey-filled hives, wrapped with insulation to help keep them warm from winter winds. They are not supposed to require any work now but I daily check them to make sure they are snug and undisturbed. If temperatures are 50F or warmer, I will find them out and about looking for something to do. I know inside the hive they are consuming higher amounts of honey to be able to fly.

This year I left extra honey on the top of the hives. The forecast is for higher than average precipitation this winter so having extra honey stores should keep them fed through winter storms without my having to supplement feed them.

This particular day, the forecast was for strong winds so I headed out to my apiary to double-check straps holding the hives down, anchored by cement blocks. I also ensured the hive entrance was closed to the smallest size and double-checked that hive lids were on securely. It does cross my mind that I wish I could move them to a safe spot like my garage, or living room. It’s not that far fetched, some beekeepers in colder states use potato storage silos to keep their bees.

By late evening, the wind was howling and a tornado watch had been issued for where I live. I didn’t sleep well, neither did my cats. Several times the wind was blowing so hard it sounded like a train, the usual description given for a tornado. I headed down to the basement, just in case. So did the cats. I had their favorite blanket.

By morning it was time to check the damage. Downed limbs, missing deck chairs, several garden arbors were bent over and two very cranky cats were settling in for naps.

First signs of storm damage, my bent garden arbors. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

And one of my bee hives had toppled over, the hive boxes upside down on the hillside.

Good thing I had changed into work clothes because a bee suit over pajamas is not a good look. I was the bee suit and at the hive in nothing flat. It was below 40F so the bees were not able to fly even if they made it.

I removed the first box. It was the larger bottom box, empty. Not unexpected this time of year, the bees move up the hive as winter progresses.

The second box was also empty.

As I carefully moved the third box, there was sign of life.

First signs of life, bees in the third box from the bottom. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

These boxes are all upside down so now I needed to careful turn the box right side up and move the movable frames without squishing bees. I took the remaining medium super and carefully moved frames, and bees, into it.

Two more boxes, the ones on top, where not only full of honey but bees as well. I did the same thing, carefully moving the frames into one of the empty boxes and giving the bees a ride back into their home.

A few bees were on the ground. After checking that the queen bee wasn’t there, I moved some empty frames over them so they could easily climb on and get back into the hive.

It didn’t take long. With a little re-arranging, the bees were back in the hive, the hive was strapped back down and wrapped for winter against further winds.

Rebuilt and insulated hive containing the surviving colony. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

I removed the two bottom empty boxes to make the hive more stable in wind.

We tell beginning beekeepers to stay out of their hives through winter. Bees seal up their hives with propolis, a glue-like substance made from tree sap. They don’t have time to re-seal hives mid winter so the insulation will be good to have since the wind knocked the hive boxes over breaking the propolis seals.

I worked fast getting them back into their hives but have to confess, it was nice to be working with them again.

As I headed back inside for a warm cup of tea, it crossed my mind that if I’m missing them already, this could be a very long winter for me without my bees.

Charlotte