Busy Berry Season

I sure hope the bees are doing okay. It's been a madhouse here in berry season. Picking and preserving stacked onto the normal chores of a family keep me so busy  that I barely have time to think of the bees. So I hope they can make it on their own until everything else slows down.

Flight School

A buzzing commotion at the hive.

Bees are at the entrance landing fanning with tails up .... orientation flight.

A new brood has hatched and ready for foraging.

Water

Since the bees are now using the pet waterer - I cleaned it out. I replaced the removed the water, rocks and sticks which were very grimy.

And replaced the feeder with clean fresh water, marbles and skewers. Hopefully the checkered pattern of skewers will keep the bees from drowning. 

Outside Activities

In my online reading, I learned...

Bees fanning with bottoms up, are helping new forager bees to orient to the hive.
Bees fanning with bottoms down, are circulation the air.
Bees washboarding (appearance of licking) are cooling off the hive.