Category Archives: Ecology
Pollinator Week 2019
In the past three or four years, I began to notice that honey bees aren’t the only bees in the world. What a surprise! There are over 20,000 other versions. Some as big as elephants, some as small as pin … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, Outreach, Pollination
Tagged bumblebees, National Pollination Week, Pollination, pollinators
2 Comments
World Bee Day 2019
World Bee Day, May 20 of each year, is not just about honey bees. Although the idea arose in Slovenia, a little country that’s really big on honey-bee keeping, it’s also a celebration of all the world’s bees. About 20,000 … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, History, Native Bees, Outreach, Save the Bees
Tagged Anton Jansa, dogwood, Native Bees, Slovenia, World Bee Day
4 Comments
Beekeeping goes Global
Global TV interviewed me at noon today. Our chat went OK. I covered most of what I wanted to talk about in the five minutes allotted. I’d like to give a special thanks to Liz Goldie, who helped immeasurably with … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Outreach, Save the Bees
Tagged Bees on TV, Calgary Bee Club, urban beekeeping
10 Comments
Bees on Ice
So much has happened in the weeks since my last post: I started an MSc (in bee ecology); my son and I pulled our honey crop; I presented a talk at the first-ever United Beekeepers of Alberta conference; I began … Continue reading
Smoky Bees
Originally posted on Bad Beekeeping Blog:
Calgary – a smoker’s haven. My home town – Calgary – is under a smoke advisory. The sky is hazy with smelly gray smoke from the trees, grass, and homes that are on fire…
Posted in Beekeeping, Ecology, Honey, Reblogs, Uncategorized
Tagged Alberta, bee smoker, Calgary, forest fires, pheromones, smoke
2 Comments
Should you feed a tired bee?
Feeding bumblebees that are resting in a garden has become a thing. I’ve seen some twitter tweets with concerned citizens gallantly virtue signalling their good deed – giving a bee a drink of sugar water. Here’s a sample: You can … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Save the Bees, Strange, Odd Stuff
Tagged bumblebee, Carniolan honey bees, feeding bees
8 Comments
Minding the June Gap
I ran this piece last year, but it’s worth repeating. After the natural spring bouquet has begun to fade, honey bees may become hungry. The hives are (usually) strong with lots of brood. If there is a long gap between … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Ecology, Honey Plants
Tagged Alberta, dandelions, feeding bees, June beekeeping, Pennsylvania
2 Comments
Celebrating Pollination Week
National Pollinator Week is coming, June 18-24. You have less than two weeks to get your affairs in order. I’m not always sure what a person is supposed to do when National (fill-in-the-blank) Day/Week/Month is celebrated. Well, it’s pretty obvious … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, Outreach, Save the Bees
Tagged National Pollination Week, pollinators
3 Comments
Peak Dandelion
For a lot of temperate-climate beekeepers, dandelions are the peak of the spring season. Their bloom marks the point where hives are finally getting much stronger, nectar is pouring in, and the dandelions’ massive gifts are giving a fine boost … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Climate, Ecology, Honey Plants
Tagged bee nutrition, dandelions, pollen, Saskatchewan
3 Comments
Pollen Specks
Yesterday, I saw the first pollen of the year carried by bees in our area. It’s almost May! Local bees have been without fresh pollen for over six months. The pollen specks which I saw were pitifully specky. If you … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Climate, Ecology, Honey Plants
Tagged Andony Melathopoulos, crocus, pollen, Spring, willow
6 Comments
