Topic: SnoKing Beekeepers Feb. 15, 2023 Meeting

Time: Feb 15, 2023 06:30 PM Pacific Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85806710334?pwd=L3IrajM3bEM2T2E2c2R3UE1hR3JPdz09

Meeting ID: 858 0671 0334

Passcode: 012302

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     Join us Wednesday 6:30PM to share what's going on in our hives and in our club.

SHORT MEETING TOPICS:

A quick showing of Earth Day outreach and presentation aids, with emphasis on free materials available to the public for download – posters, brochures, powerpoint slides – that beekeepers can use when talking to other beekeepers or school, gardening or environmental groups. Sample pictures are scattered throughout this newsletter.

Also, a brief overview of temperature dependency  of most Varroa reatments, limiting their correct and effective application. Realistically, what are our options at each season?

MEETING AGENDA:

We will start with a quick business update and the outlook for 2023. Then, deadouts, packages and nucs are on everyone’s mind, so we will start with any questions, comments or concerns about our hives until about 7:30PM. Remember we can share screen one member at a time, so get your pictures ready to show us your hives and ideas.

And, of course, we can't resist discussing it afterwards. The meeting is always a chance to talk bees until sunrise! Well, maybe not that late. 

CONTENTS:

Also in this newsletter:

BEE TIPS & TRIVIA

IN-PERSON SOCIALS

CLASSES: Journeyman, Apprentice, Beginner                           

HIVESIDES

TO-DO LIST & WEATHER NOTES

QUEEN PROJECT 

Also not to be missed:

Bee Punny! ended on December 31st! If you select the category Jokes on the blog page, you can still chuckle your way to relaxation. 2023 new blog posts feature Bee Trivia & Tips, one drop of sweet wisdom each day for the 365 days of the new year!

FOLLOWUP TO FEBRUARY MEETING TOPIC:

If “Reading frames” by Dewey Caron was too basic for you, or if you feel ready for the next step, watch Kirsten Traynor’s “Reading a Hive” presentation she gave at the National Honey Show (united Kingdom). https://youtu.be/tzBvh5y89Ww

Dr. Traynor often gives “soft beekeeping” presentations designed for outreach, public relations, overview of bees and beekeeping issues. However, this presentation was more “hard beekeeping”, more practical, field-oriented  and how-to. This kind of fact-filled beekeeping video is harder to find, so we recommend watching this video. You will not be wasting your time. 

IN-PERSON SOCIALS of 2023 have to be rescheduled to May! For more information and to volunteer, contact Tawnya Sapp, tawnya.sapp@gmail.com , 253.797.0949.

Ideas and help needed for more in-person get-togethers, particularly hands-on activities, including people to lead them, maybe some of the following:

                Wax food wraps

                Pollen patties and fondant frames

                Frame and box assembly

                AZ hive presentation

WEBSITE IMPROVEMENTS:

CALENDAR page shows classes online (Beginner, Apprentice, Journeyman) and Hivesides already scheduled.

NEWSLETTERS page  - you find it on the Home page - has links to all past newsletters. We hope those will be of use when you are  looking for a past article or link to a resource.

RESOURCES page – coming soon – Those helpful resources that are currently found on the “Files” section of our FB group page will become more accessible at www.snokingbka.org .

OUTREACH opportunities:

Earth Day – we have already received one request to staff an information booth. We have brochures left from the Evergreen State Fair.

CLASSES: All levels are offered at this time.

BEGINNER BEEKEEPING CLASS STARTING 6:30PM March 20th to run 7 consecutive Mondays for WASBA certification. More information at www.snokingbka.org/beginnerapplication .

APPRENTICE BEEKEEPING CLASS starts 6:30PM April 13th to run 7 consecutive Thursdays. More information at www.snokingbka.org/apprenticeapplication.   

SnoKing Beekeepers Association (SKBA) continues to offer online classes for WASBA certification at all 3 levels of certification (Beginner, Apprentice & Journeyman Beekeeper) year round. All classes for WASBA certification are still online for the foreseeable future, including online testing. Questions? Call or text 206-859-7392 or email eliochel@snokingbka.org.

HIVESIDES:

First Hivesides of the Year are coming up – Dates and times to be announced soon.

Hivesides are limited until May because weather may not permit opening hives for inspection. However, we can cover: oxalic acid vaporization methods (wand and gun), smoker, hive configurations, apiary location, accessories, hive tools, PPE, etc. The cold will keep these first hivesides short in length but long on information that can be shared.

Also, let us know if you are interested in hosting a nuc or package installation.Any member in Snohomish County or North King County ordering a nuc or package who would be willing to host a Saturday or Sunday nuc or package installation, please call Eli 206-859-7392 or email eliochel@snoking bka.org. It is a good way to meet several other beekeepers, often in your neighborhood.

HiveSide Managers:

Granite Falls - Ron - beebuddy.skba@gmail.com 206-719-3604

Maltby - Eli - eliochel@snokingbka.org  206-859-7392

MONTHLY TO-DO LIST AND WEATHER NOTES

5-seconds can save a hive!

  Murphy’s Law Beekeeping Corollary #19: “Stop checking and you will miss the attention the hive did not need until you stopped checking!”

MONITORING

We are still in “monitoring mode”: Checking entrances, Ground in front, Slideout boards, Hivetop dry feed.

Cleansing flights and pollen foraging are fun to watch but a nectar flow sufficient to support the growing spring population is still months away, so keep checking those stores. Heft, weigh, or peek at frame tops in the topmost box.

Patience is a virtue, and may even help save a hive. Interfering with that incredible ability of a formerly tropical species to survive winter by grouping together may kill a colony.

RESIST DISRUPTING THE CLUSTER!

Although the lowest extended temperatures of winter may be behind us, freezing weather is still in the forecasts ahead for many of us in Western Washington, so we caution against being too quick to open hives. A inspection on a 50 degree F high one day may be tempting, but  the night lows the evenings before and after may prevent the hive from recovering from a disruption that seems minor. However, bees need to be able to reform the cluster around the queen to keep her about 68-70 F, and now some colonies are already raising brood and must keep those young bees at  92-94 F. Be sure your bees can regroup and rewarm the brood you are chilling with an inspection, before the brood succumbs.

YELLOW JACKET TRAPS

Protection from robbing by overwintering, mated yellow jacket queens coming out of dormancy will be critical this spring. A warm, sunny extended Fall such as we just had is predicted to result in more queens overwintering than usual. We can hope that the below freezing temps last fall will keep their numbers down, but Facebook groups are already reporting sightings. Those queens are proving that they can fly at 10 degrees F lower than our sweet bees. Time to get those traps baited and out!

ROBBING SCREENS

Also, some of our hives need protection from each other! Time to get robbing screens on! Ty Carlson just posted some very interesting video of his landing boards which show struggles between bees. Stronger hives “wake up” and become active earlier than weaker “sleepy” hives. Despite availability of pollen at this time of year, there is no significant nectar flow, so as the foragers start to fly, they perceive dearth. Dearth leads to robbing and bees are efficiency experts not moralists. Robbing is more efficient than desperate searches for enough nectar to feed a growing population. Here's a picture of the ragged, ripped up comb damaged by robbing.

 2023 NUC PACKAGE SUPPLIER LIST

The 2023 Nuc/Package Supplier update should be ready by the meeting this Wed.

REQUIRED FOR JOURNEYMAN!

Interested in continuing your beekeeping journey with WASBA Journeyman certification? If you are doing club and community service this summer, don't forget that Apprentice certificate is to be earned BEFORE service counted towards the Journeyman requirement.

The next APPRENTICE class starts 6:30PM Thursday April 13th for 7 consecutive Thursdays. This session is timed to finish May 25th --before school is out and we rush to get everything possible done during our all too brief summer weather.

I would encourage any beekeeper approaching 3 years of beekeeping to pursue Journeyman. For many of you, mentoring, teaching, volunteering in your local bee club, presenting about bees and pollinators, staffing booths at fairs and community events and more! is what you do without expecting compensation. However, recognizing that service is part of Journeyman.

For more information about the WASBA Journeyman program, please visit https://wasba.org/education/journeyman/ or contact Eli Ocheltree, master beekeeper, eliochel@snokingbka.org, 206-859-7392.

QUEEN PROJECT:

Queen rearing and overwintering in double nucs update: on track.  Expect details in March, signup in April.

      Pilot project overwintering reserve queens in double nucs is in progress now. 5 out of 7 at the Maltby apiary are doing well despite starting with less than 5 frames of bees on average. Overwintering them as smaller colonies in double nuclei stacks is working. Overwintering reserve queens would greatly increase success and sustainability of any apiary, given our unreliable Western Washington weather.

Hope to see you all 6:30PM Wednesday Feb 15th. Just as our bees will do this winter, it is important for us beekeepers to winter together, cluster, network and pass items to each other!

Looking forward to talking bees with you,

SnoKing Beekeepers Association.

Topic: SnoKing Beekeepers Feb. 15, 2023 Meeting

Time: Feb 15, 2023 06:30 PM Pacific Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85806710334?pwd=L3IrajM3bEM2T2E2c2R3UE1hR3JPdz09

Meeting ID: 858 0671 0334

Passcode: 012302

One tap mobile

+12532050468,,85806710334#,,,,*012302# US

+12532158782,,85806710334#,,,,*012302# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location

+1 253 205 0468 US

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kchZ5IhPp 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! LET'S HAVE A BEE-UTIFUL YEAR!